01/05/2026

FRIDAY | MAY 1, 2026

10

UNDER ONE ROOF

Q : I AM a working wife and mother with a preschooler and a couple of school-age children who are involved in numerous extracurricular activities. Our family schedule is so packed that I feel compelled to be “working” all the time. How can I stop feeling guilty and resist the urge to be a ‘superwoman’?” Focus on the Family Malaysia : Let’s be honest: no one needs to be able to “do it all” – and believing we should often does more harm than good. Trying to live up to that ideal can create unnecessary and unhealthy stress. Our counsellors have a few practical ways to minimise the strain: 0 Don’t feel pressured to be productive every time. If you have a block of free time – for example, during your preschooler’s naptime – use it for yourself. Do something that restores your energy and brings you joy. 0 Share the load at home. Involve your older children in decision-making and household chores. Giving them responsibility not only lightens your burden but also builds their independence. 0 Simplify your schedule. Consider limiting after-school activities to one or two favourites. This reduces the constant rush and creates more space for meaningful family time. 0 Connect with other working mums. Exchange ideas, share meal preparations For years, Malaysian badminton has depended heavily on a small pool of elite players. This over-reliance is increasingly proving to be unsustainable in a sport that is physically demanding and highly competitive at the global level. As an educator in a tertiary institution for over two decades, I have had the opportunity to teach and interact with many student-athletes. I have witnessed the intense pressure they face in balancing academic responsibilities with the rigorous demands of training and competition. This dual burden often leads to fatigue, mental strain, and in some cases, burnout. When this is compounded by a system that repeatedly relies on the same athletes to deliver results, the risk of injury and performance decline becomes even more pronounced. Pearly’s situation reflects not just an individual setback but also the cost of a system that stretches its top performers too thin. The nature of the international badminton circuit further amplifies this issue. Unlike sports with longer recovery cycles, badminton requires players to compete frequently across tournaments, often with minimal rest. The physical toll on athletes is significant, particularly in doubles play where speed, coordination and reflexes are critical. In such an environment, continuously fielding the same players without adequate rotation or support inevitably leads to wear and tear. Injuries

Breaking free from ‘superwoman’ pressure

my jealousy and genuinely feel happy for him? Focus on the Family Malaysia : It is natural to feel jealous when someone else has opportunities we don’t. While this is something you and your husband should talk through together, it is important to first identify what is really going on for you. Try to figure out what is really being triggered. Beyond jealousy, are there deeper emotions at play – feeling overlooked, unappreciated or taken for granted? Reflect honestly on whether these feelings have surfaced in other areas of your life as well. It is also important to recognise that these emotions are yours to process. Do you really just want to travel or is it more a need to be acknowledged for doing your part on the team – managing the house and children? You need to be able to share with your husband that this is how you are feeling

rather than causing him to withdraw. At the same time, clarify what you truly need. Perhaps you are craving more variety, fun or adventure in your own life. If so, you can strategise as a couple on how to make that happen and how he can include you – for example, planning trips together, finding small ways to add excitement to your routine or even using his frequent flyer miles so you can join him occasionally. The aim is to find a “win-win” situation where both of you can feel seen, supported and fulfilled. This article is contributed by Focus on the Family Malaysia, a non-profit organisation dedicated to supporting and strengthening the family unit. It provides a myriad of programmes and resources, including professional counselling services, to the community. For more information, visit family.org.my. Comments: letters@thesundaily.com

and organisational tips and suggestions for fun things to do as a family, and even carpool to save time and effort. 0 Be sure to regularly set aside time to connect with your spouse. Even if your marriage is solid, regular “date nights” will strengthen the bond between you and positively impact the whole family. At the end of the day, one of the most valuable things you can do for yourself, your marriage and your entire household is to keep life simple. Slow down, breathe deeply and savour the small, everyday moments. And if you can’t do it all, don’t be hard on yourself – because no one can. Q: My husband travels frequently for work, visiting places around the world. I just can’t help feeling jealous that he gets to go to all these wonderful places and I don’t. It’s gotten to the point where he avoids talking about his travels. How can I manage

LETTERS letters@thesundaily.com

The cost of relying on too few players IT is a significant loss to the nation with regards to Pearly Tan. Her withdrawal from the Uber Cup due to a recurring injury did not only affect Malaysia’s chances in the tournament but also exposed a deeper structural weakness within the country’s badminton ecosystem. become not just a matter of chance but also of time. Malaysia’s approach has traditionally centred on maximising the performance of its top-ranked players but this has come at the expense of developing depth within the squad.

When a key player like Pearly is unavailable, the gap in quality becomes immediately visible. This highlights a systemic issue: the absence of a strong second line of players who are ready to step up and perform at the highest level. Without this depth, the national team remains vulnerable to disruptions caused by injury or fatigue. In contrast, leading badminton nations such as China, Japan and Denmark have adopted more sustainable models. China’s system is built on a continuous pipeline of talent, where players are identified early, trained systematically and rotated regularly. This ensures that there is always a pool of athletes ready to compete at elite levels. Japan, on the other hand, places strong emphasis on team structure and rotation, allowing multiple pairs to gain exposure and experience in international competitions. This not only reduces pressure on individual players but also fosters internal competition and growth. Denmark offers yet another perspective, focusing on athlete welfare, personalised training and long-term development. Their approach recognises that sustaining performance requires careful management of both physical and mental demands. Malaysia, by comparison, appears to be lagging in these areas. The transition from junior to senior levels is not always smooth and promising talents often struggle to break into the elite tier. At the same time, top players are expected to carry the burden of national expectations across multiple tournaments. This imbalance creates a

“The goal should not be to produce one or two outstanding players but to cultivate a generation of athletes capable of supporting one another and stepping up when needed.

Pearly’s withdrawal should serve as a wake-up call for Malaysian badminton authorities to reassess current strategies and invest in a more holistic and sustainable system. – BERNAMAPIC

is no longer a sport where success can be sustained by a handful of individuals. It demands depth, adaptability and long term planning. Pearly’s withdrawal should serve as a wake-up call for Malaysian badminton authorities to reassess current strategies and invest in a more holistic and sustainable system. The goal should not be to produce one or two outstanding players but to cultivate a generation of athletes capable of supporting one another and stepping up when needed. Only then can Malaysia remain competitive on the global stage while safeguarding the well-being and longevity of its players. R. Murali Rajaratenam

cycle where emerging players are underdeveloped while established players are overworked. To move forward, a shift in mindset is necessary. Malaysian badminton must evolve from a system that depends on a few star players to one that builds a broader and more resilient talent base. This requires stronger investment in grassroots development, better integration between junior and senior programmes and more deliberate efforts to expose second-tier players to high level competition. Equally important is the need to prioritise athlete welfare through proper workload management, recovery planning and psychological support. The reality is that modern badminton