Full backing: Coach Yogendran trying to calm down a distraught Wong Ling Ching during the Asia Team Championships last year.
PETALING JAYA: National coaching director Rexy Mainaky has complete faith in his assistant coaches in the Asia Mixed Team Championships which starts today in Qingdao, China.
Rexy has not just selected the backup shuttlers for the team event which also acts as the qualifier for the Sudirman Cup from April 27-May 4 but also a team of assistant coaches to guide the players.
Head coaches Kenneth Jonassen (singles), Herry Iman Pierngadi (men’s doubles), Rosman Razak (women’s doubles) and Nova Widianto (mixed doubles) have all not followed the team to China.
Instead, K. Yogendran, Muhammad Miftakh, Ching Kai Feng and Lutfi Zaim will be guiding the players.
They are the assistant coaches for the singles, men’s doubles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles respectively.
Rexy explained that the head coaches have stayed behind to prepare the top pairs – Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik (men’s doubles), Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah (women’s doubles) and Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei (mixed doubles) – for the prestigious All-England from March 11-16 in Birmingham.
“Since we opted to send a mixture of experienced and backup players for the Asia team meet, our top pairs are back in Kuala Lumpur,” said Rexy.
Muhammad Miftakh having a light-moment during training.
“So, all the head coaches have to prepare them for the upcoming All-England.”
Rexy backed his assistant coaches to do a good job in the team meet.
“Since all the coaches work very closely now, everyone knows each other and what to do and the planning for the players is very clear,” said Rexy.
“So, for me I don’t just trust the head coaches but also the assistants and the players. I trust all the coaches and believe all can do their jobs very well.”
Malaysia will face Hong Kong in the team’s opening Group B match tomorrow before taking on Indonesia on Thursday.
The team need to win at least one match as only the top two in the group will progress to the quarter-finals.
Malaysia will be relying on Leong Jun Hao, Justin Hoh (men’s singles), Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun, Yap Roy King-Wan Arif Wan Junaidi (men’s doubles), K. Letshanaa, Wong Ling Ching (women’s singles), Teoh Mei Xing-Go Pei Kee, Cheng Su Hui-Tan Zhing Yi (women’s doubles), Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie and Hoo Pang Ron-Cheng Su Yin (mixed doubles).
The teams that reach the last four in the tournament will automatically qualify for the Sudirman Cup.
Meanwhile, Pang Ron who was selected as captain, hopes to be able to guide his teammates as best possible, besides instilling a fighting spirit in the squad.
“I hope to create a good environment and a team spirit where we support each other, stay united and play with determination,” he said.
