KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 3 — The commitment of the national players under Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) is very positive and if this attitude continues until the 2025 Malaysia Open begins, it will certainly open up a great opportunity for Malaysia to win a title after a long time.
This confidence was voiced by Academy Badminton Malaysia (ABM) coaching director Rexy Mainaky, who believes that "where there is a will, there is a way" especially when the badminton calendar is packed with tournaments.
Nonetheless, he admitted that the rise of local professional players like Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin Rumsani in the men's doubles sector should provide more motivation to the two national men's pairs, Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik and Yap Roy King-Wan Muhammad Arif Wan Junaidi.
"I do not place this trust only on the men's doubles sector but also on Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei (national mixed doubles), who hopefully can go further with the confidence shown at the BWF World Tour Finals.
"In the men's singles sector, we have Leong Jun Hao because he previously reached the final of the 2024 Japan Masters. It is not easy to reach that level because he's up against all the levels above him so we hope he can repeat the same thing in Malaysia," he told the press at ABM in Bukit Kiara today.
Rexy also hopes that national women's doubles Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah will give their best because the draw is seen as favouring them to advance to the semi-finals, but he reminded all parties to be realistic.
In the meantime, he hopes that players who are playing in the two sectors are no longer looking for experience but can form their own identities more clearly this year.
"I met with coaches, there is information from coaches of Roy King (men's doubles and mixed doubles) who is playing in the two events.
"Yes, I see Roy King and we also see Hoo Pang Ron as the players with experience. We see him giving an influence to Cheng Su Yin to see herself emerge as a player of her own," Rexy said.
The 2025 Malaysia Open will take place from January 7 to January 12 at Axiata Arena, Bukit Jalil.
— Bernama
