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KUALA LUMPUR – National men’s singles coach Hendrawan has won over badminton fans in a viral video showing him lending Jamaica’s Samuel Ricketts his own shoes after the latter’s game was hampered by a torn shoe heel during a group match at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham recently.
Sportsmanship at its finest.
— ESPN Asia (@ESPNAsia) July 31, 2022
When 🇯🇲 Jamaica's Samuel Rickets' shoe gave way in the middle of a @birminghamcg22 badminton match, 🇲🇾 Malaysia coach Hendrawan lent a helping hand by giving him his own pair! #B2022 pic.twitter.com/g8WX5WjXJK
National shuttler Ng Tze Yong was playing Jamaican national champion Ricketts, whose shoe problems began in the second set.
Seeing Ricketts given a pair of regular sports shoes by his team to continue the match, Tze Yong offered his own shoes to Ricketts, who turned it down, possibly due to them being different sizes.
Hendrawan then came over from the coaching seat and offered to Ricketts his own shoes, which happened to be the same size.
Ricketts was able to continue the match wearing his opponent’s coach’s shoes, while Hendrawan’s feet only had socks on.
The Jamaican tried his best for the remainder of the game but eventually lost 21-12, 21-16 to Tze Yong.
Ricketts kept Hendrawan’s shoes on when he partnered Joel Angus in the doubles match against Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik. Ricketts-Angus lost 21-7, 21-11.
On Instagram, Hendrawan posted a message about his act of sportsmanship towards the Jamaican shuttler.
“It all started with good intentions to help.
“Seeing his fight, I did not want him to stop playing because of his shoes.
“I only gave my shoes so that he could continue his dream to keep playing.
“From this, I have learned that there is something much bigger than competition – love, respect, and humanity,” he said. – The Vibes, August 3, 2022