The Malaysian contingent ended the 2025 All-England in Birmingham in disastrous fashion, having only seen two pairs reach the quarter-finals. Stadium Astro looks back at three talking points from this forgettable outing.
What’s the future of men’s singles?
Always a highly followed event in Malaysia, but fans were left hugely disappointed by the outcome
Leong Jun Hao and Lee Zii Jia both crashed in the first round.
Leong was a bundle of nerves against Jonatan Christie and surrendered tamely in straight games, while Lee had not recovered from his ankle injury, evident in the defeat against Angus Ng Ka Long.
With Ng Tze Yong still on the sidelines to a long standing back injury and Justin Hoh not fully matured in his game, the question most fans will have is what's the future of Malaysia's men’s singles?
This current crop of shuttlers will have to be ready to play catch-up against a highly competitive men's singles field, which is witnessing new contenders such as Alex Lanier and Lee Chia-hao.
Poor excuses for doubles performances
The reactions from national men’s doubles coach Herry Iman Pierngadi and national coaching director Rexy Mainaky said it all.
Mainaky attributed communication breakdown for mixed doubles pair Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei, who lost in the first round against their Indonesian opponents.
As for Pierngadi, the veteran Indonesian coach said this was one of his worst setbacks in his coaching career.
It is also clear that the players are either too slow to adapt to his style of play, or they are struggling to change their usual pattern of play.
“I have been telling the players not to lift the shuttle too much to remain offensive, but they have not completely adapted to it,” said Pierngadi.
Failure to adapt, communication breakdown, overawed by big stage occasion and injuries explain some of the factors of the doubles performance.
Apart from the injuries, the rest of these reasons are difficult to accept.
Especially given the luxuries that are afforded to the country’s top pairs.
Pearly-Thinaah win hearts of Malaysians
If there were sweet memories for Malaysia in Birmingham, all of it belonged to Pearly Tan-M.Thinaah.
First, it was Tan who soldiered on to play despite hurting her ankle in the match against Indonesia’s Apriyani Rahayu-Siti Fadia Ramadhanti.
After that, Thinaah showed that she is not just Tan’s partner, but a great friend when she carried her injured comrade on her back after the win.
The next day, Tan was determined to play against Nami Matsuyama-Chiharu Shida despite carrying the injury.
And Thinaah once again rose to the occasion to cover for her injured partner, with the match almost looking like a two vs one.
Credit to Matsuyama-Shida too, for not attacking the injured Tan.
The Malaysians gave their Japanese opponents a good fight and can be proud of their efforts.
What’s the future of men’s singles?
Always a highly followed event in Malaysia, but fans were left hugely disappointed by the outcome
Leong Jun Hao and Lee Zii Jia both crashed in the first round.
Leong was a bundle of nerves against Jonatan Christie and surrendered tamely in straight games, while Lee had not recovered from his ankle injury, evident in the defeat against Angus Ng Ka Long.
With Ng Tze Yong still on the sidelines to a long standing back injury and Justin Hoh not fully matured in his game, the question most fans will have is what's the future of Malaysia's men’s singles?
This current crop of shuttlers will have to be ready to play catch-up against a highly competitive men's singles field, which is witnessing new contenders such as Alex Lanier and Lee Chia-hao.
Poor excuses for doubles performances
The reactions from national men’s doubles coach Herry Iman Pierngadi and national coaching director Rexy Mainaky said it all.
Mainaky attributed communication breakdown for mixed doubles pair Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei, who lost in the first round against their Indonesian opponents.
As for Pierngadi, the veteran Indonesian coach said this was one of his worst setbacks in his coaching career.
It is also clear that the players are either too slow to adapt to his style of play, or they are struggling to change their usual pattern of play.
“I have been telling the players not to lift the shuttle too much to remain offensive, but they have not completely adapted to it,” said Pierngadi.
Failure to adapt, communication breakdown, overawed by big stage occasion and injuries explain some of the factors of the doubles performance.
Apart from the injuries, the rest of these reasons are difficult to accept.
Especially given the luxuries that are afforded to the country’s top pairs.
Pearly-Thinaah win hearts of Malaysians
If there were sweet memories for Malaysia in Birmingham, all of it belonged to Pearly Tan-M.Thinaah.
First, it was Tan who soldiered on to play despite hurting her ankle in the match against Indonesia’s Apriyani Rahayu-Siti Fadia Ramadhanti.
After that, Thinaah showed that she is not just Tan’s partner, but a great friend when she carried her injured comrade on her back after the win.
The next day, Tan was determined to play against Nami Matsuyama-Chiharu Shida despite carrying the injury.
And Thinaah once again rose to the occasion to cover for her injured partner, with the match almost looking like a two vs one.
Credit to Matsuyama-Shida too, for not attacking the injured Tan.
The Malaysians gave their Japanese opponents a good fight and can be proud of their efforts.
