Rexy wants Yew Sin-Ee Yi in Thomas Cup assault

On the rise: Rexy said Yew Sin and Ee Yi deserve a spot as they did well in Europe and the World Championships.

PETALING JAYA: Rexy Mainaky is not planning to keep the selection of the men’s doubles in suspense any longer ahead of the Thomas Cup Finals.

The Indonesian doubles legend, who is the national doubles coaching director, has earmarked independent shuttlers Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi for the prestigious team event together with the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM)’s top two pairs Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik and Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani.

Aaron-Wooi Yik are ranked eighth while Sze Fei-Izzuddin have moved up two rungs to 16th in the world after winning the German Open title and reaching the Swiss Open final.

“The recent Europe stint has showed that Yew Sin-Ee Yi are one of our best pairs and I want them to be part of the team,” said Rexy.

In the three tournaments held last month, world No. 11 Yew Sin-Ee Yi reached the quarter-finals of the German Open and Swiss Open respectively but went down in the second round of the All-England in Birmingham.

“Besides, they also deserve the spot as they did well in last year’s World Championships. We want to have the best team in Bangkok and for now, these three pairs fit our plan.”

At the world meet, Yew Sin-Ee Yi were Malaysia’s best performers when they won a bronze medal en route to reaching the semi-finals in Huelva, Spain, last year.

Yew Sin-Ee Yi train under Chin Ee Hui while Rexy is handling the other two pairs in the absence of another Indonesian coach Flandi Limpele.

Flandi chose to leave the BAM last week although the national body had offered to extend his contract, which ended yesterday.

Rexy, who joined the BAM set-up last year, said Flandi’s absence would not affect preparations for the Thomas Cup Finals and the SEA Games in Vietnam.

For the SEA Games, they have already named Syed Modi International champions Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun and Mohd Haikal Nazri-Wan Mohd Arif Shaharuddin Wan Junaidi.

“I’m able to handle it without Flandi. I still have our assistant Tan Bin Shen for the men’s doubles,” he said.

The other coaches in the doubles department are Hoon Thien How, Lee Meng Yean (women’s doubles), Paulus Firman and Teo Kok Siang (mixed doubles).

Another personnel who left was women’s doubles coach Chan Chong Ming in December last year.

“Yes, I’m looking for replacements but we have to choose the ones with credentials, so it will take time to pick the right one. For now, I’m able to cope with the team I have,” said Rexy.

“I don’t think Flandi’s exit at this stage will affect our rhythm ahead of the Thomas Cup and SEA Games. The morale of the men’s doubles is very high.

“I believe that without any outside distractions they will be able to give unwavering focus in training,” added Rexy.

Malaysia last won the Thomas Cup in 1992 while Aaron-Wooi Yik ended a 16-year wait for a SEA Games gold in the men’s doubles when they won it at the last edition in the Philippines in 2019.