Rexy Mainaky earmarked his charges to strike gold at next year’s rescheduled Asian Games after cracking the code for Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik to deliver the country’s maiden World Championships crown.
In an interview with Tan Boon Heong, the country’s last Asian Games men’s doubles gold medallists along with Koo Kien Kiat, the Malaysia doubles chief wanted not only Chia-Soh to strike big, but also women’s doubles pair Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah.
“We want them to win the Asian Games title too. Not just Chia-Soh, but also Pearly and Thinaah. After this, no doubt the expectations of fans will be higher on them to also deliver the Olympics gold medal.
“But firstly, they must prove themselves on the [BWF World Tour] circuit. At the same time, we are also keeping track of Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin’s progress. We need them to be more consistent.
“We will work with them before the Europe leg kicks off. We want to know what their mindset was like before they won the German Open title," said Rexy.
Tan Bin Shen, who became the first Malaysian coach to produce local world champions, said his relationship with Rexy also played a key role in the doubles’ department.
“Before this I was a player under Rexy, so I know what he looks for in a shuttler. I would say the coaches have great team spirit, we are solid together,” he said.
Bin Shen, who is the men’s doubles assistant coach, followed the team to the World Championships in Japan at Rexy’s request.
All the senior shuttlers head to Europe next for the Denmark Open (October 18-23) followed by the French Open (October 25-30).
Chia and Pearly are currently nursing injuries, with the former recovering from an armpit muscle injury sustained at the World Championships, and the latter injuring her left hamstring in the Japan Open second round.
