KUALA LUMPUR – Having spent considerable time coaching in Malaysia, Indonesian Rexy Mainaky has learned a crucial lesson: never overhype a player or pair.
As the coaching director for Akademi Badminton Malaysia (ABM), Rexy emphasised the importance of younger pairs staying grounded and not getting ahead of themselves.
The former Olympic and world champion stressed that these pairs need to trust the process as they work their way up the ranks.
Reflecting on his previous stint with the national squad in the mid-2000s, Rexy acknowledged that the hype and pressure had adversely affected former Asian Games champions Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong.
When asked by the media whether the up-and-coming pair Aaron Tai and Kang Khai Xing should be fast-tracked to compete in bigger tournaments, Rexy responded: “I want to understand our players’ mentality better.
“If you recall, Boon Heong was only 19, and Kien Keat was 21 when we began heaping praise on them for their early successes. But soon after, their results became inconsistent, like a kite swaying in the wind.
“Aaron and Kang are still young. I don’t want them to crumble under pressure. They must also understand that there are three other pairs ranked above them, so they still have plenty to learn and experience.”
Regarding future plans, particularly following the announcement that Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin Rumsani are turning professional next month, Rexy said he would soon discuss the way forward with the coaching staff and Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) acting president, Datuk V. Subramaniam.
“At the moment, some of the coaches are away for the Japan and Korea Opens. Once they return, I’ll have a discussion with them and the president.
“In men’s doubles, we have three to five solid pairs who can challenge Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik for a place in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics,” Rexy added. – August 25, 2024