KUALA LUMPUR – Akademi Badminton Malaysia coaching director Rexy Mainaky laments the poor start that both Malaysia’s pairs had at the BWF World Tour Finals which led to both their exits at the group stage.
Yesterday men’s doubles pair Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik and Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei lost their respective matches and exited the tournament.
Rexy acknowledged that both pairs improved from their first match but wished his players would have put more effort into winning their opening group matches.
“The first match is key in determining how they play in the second and third matches. Aaron and Wooi Yik started slow, didn’t take the initiative early and were too defensive in their play.
“Tang Jie and Ee Wei’s first game was awful, they played like they had no idea how to beat their opponents.
“They were out of sync and weren’t playing as a pair. Their second match was better but in their third match against the Thai pair, they could have won but didn’t take the opportunity.
“I can see that Ee Wei was lacking stamina and Tang Jie had no idea what shots to play,” said Rexy.
The Indonesian added that he had hoped for Aaron and Wooi Yik to get out of their group.
“Even though it was a tough group, all of those pairs they had beaten before. They should have at least made it to the semifinals.
“For Tang Jie and Ee Wei, we had hoped that they got third in their group and they have achieved that so that is good for them,” said Rexy. – December 16, 2023