Kuala Lumpur, May 9: Malaysia's Uber Cup teams have never entered the final rounds based on merit but always through the `backdoor' as host nation. However, this scenario is set to change in the near future.

Uber Cup team manager Lim Teong Kiat said that the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) is working on new training methods to mould the Malaysian women into a hard bunch of players.

"In the past our shuttlers have been softies. They are afraid of carrying out exercises, especially those involving weight training. They think that it would add muscles and they would not be able to have boyfriends," said Teong Kiat, laughing.

However, the BAM has been able to change their mindset.

"The current batch of women shuttlers realise that they lag behind powerful teams like China, Denmark, South Korea, Japan and Indonesia due to the lack of strength, power and endurance," said Teong Kiat.

He said the women shuttlers are willing to undergo weight training and are tested against the junior boys during training.

"These have done the women shuttlers a world of good. They now play hard and are able to withstand long hours of play. There's more power in their game. Thus they are able to offer their opponents a stronger fight,"'he said.

He said that in future, the Malaysian women hope to get past the qualifying rounds to enter the final rounds.

Teong Kiat believes that this can happen very soon.

For the Uber Cup which starts on Thursday, Malaysia is in a tough group comprising Denmark, China and Indonesia.

"We are not capable of beating these three countries, but we are confident of maybe taking a few games off them," said Teong Kiat.