Badminton News: The record shows that the Malaysian men’s doubles pair are the top performers at the Malaysian Open, but surprisingly, they’ve been dry since Goh V Shem/Tan Wee Kiong won in 2014.
Prior to the V Shem/Wee Kiong victory, Malaysia had won 31 titles in 65 editions with Indonesia in second place with 12 titles.
And it should be another work stop for the current squad led by world champions Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik when the Malaysia Open Super 1000 kicks off at Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil later today.
That’s why national director of doubles coaching, Rexy Mainaky, isn’t pinning high hopes on Malaysia’s victory.
“My main concern at the Malaysian Open is to see Aaron-Wooi Yik play with the quality that reflects their ranking. They have to produce what they did in practice. Don’t talk about winning first,” said said Rexy.
Although Aaron/Wooi Yik broke new ground by becoming the country’s first badminton world champions, a feat they achieved in Tokyo last August, they have yet to win their first title on the world circuit.
Apart from world No. 3 Aaron/Wooi Yik, Badminton Association Malaysia (BAM) will also have Goh Sze Fei/Nur Izzuddin Rumsani (No.10) and Man Wei Chong/Te Kai Wun (No.19) and they will be followed by independent pair Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi in the tournament.
Aaron-Wooi Yik were considered the favorites in their opening match, but their opponents Lee Jhe-huei-Yang Po-hsuan from Taiwan managed to trouble the top pair.
Sze Fei-Izzuddin, who is trying to regain the form that won her the German Open title 11 months ago, will face Chinese Liang Weikeng-Wang Chang while Wei Chong-Kai Wun will face the second seeded Marcus Fernaldi-Kevin Sanjaya of Indonesia in their first round tie.
Yew Sin/Ee Yi will also have to work hard not to lose in the first round against the young Chinese pair Ren Xiangyu/Tan Qiang.
Rexy also reconfirmed women’s pair of doubles Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah had to live up to her level as an elite couple.
“It’s the first tournament of the year and it will be very unexpected, but I hope our partner can put in a quality and consistent performance. It won’t be an easy task because all the pairs will face a tough match in the first round,” Rexy said.
Pearly-Thinaah have also struggled since winning French Open two months ago, but they should have had a winning start against Bulgarians Gabriela and Stefani Stoeve.
BAM’s other pair, Goh Pei Kee-Teoh Mei Xing, will also get a break as they replace Canadian pair Catherine Choi-Josephine Wu and face independent pair Vivian Hoo-Lim Chiew Sien in the first round.
The competition lost another top pair, second seeds Nami Matsuyama/Chiharu Shida to illness as teammates Mayu Matsumoto/Wakana Nagahara also retired a few days ago.
In mixed doubles, the Malaysian Open will be a big farewell for Goh Liu Ying who chose to end his career in front of his home crowd alongside his longtime partner Chan Peng Soon.
The silver medal winning duo at the 2016 Rid de Janeiro Olympics will face the Indonesian pair Rehan Naufal/Lisa Ayu in the opening match.
“We started playing in pairs at Malaysia Open 2008 and Malaysia Open will also be our last tournament. It will be emotional but I’m not sure if I’m going to cry, maybe Peng Soon can (cry ),” Liu Ying joked.
“Winning or losing doesn’t matter but we want to play in front of our fans one last time. It’s going to be crazy because I know how our fans are going to support us and I want to enjoy every moment here.”
If Peng Soon/Lu Ying wins, they can set up a second-round battle between Malaysia against Tan Kian Meng/Lai Pei Jing or Chen Tang Jie/Toh Ee Wei.
Article tags: Rexy Mainaky, Aaron Chia, Soh Wooi Yik, Malaysian Open 2023
Published by Ligaolahraga.com at https://www.ligaolahraga.com/badminton/rexy-mainaky-yakin-tuan-rumah-perpanjang-rekor-gelar-di-malaysia-open
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