PETALING JAYA: National men’s doubles ace Soh Wooi Yik (pic) believes Japan will still be a force to be reckoned with at the forthcoming Sudirman Cup and Thomas Cup Finals despite the retirement of three seasoned players from their national team.

World No. 6 Keigo Sonoda-Takeshi Kamura, both 31, and long-serving Hiroyuki Endo, 34, have tendered their resignation to Nippon Badminton Association last week after having failed to win the country’s first medal in the men’s doubles event at the recent Tokyo Olympics.