PETALING JAYA: A coach can change a game, a great coach can change a life.
It is a famous saying by American basketball trainer John Wooden and one that is greatly followed by national doubles coach Herry Iman Pierngadi.
In fact, the 62-year-old Herry displays Wooden’s slogan instead of his photo on his WhatsApp’s profile.
With such a profound belief in his calling as a coach, no wonder Herry has been able to transform the image of the Malaysian men’s doubles department in just six months.
From a washout at the All-England in March, the men’s doubles under the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) have now contributed five titles in the first half of the year through former world champions Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik and Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun.
Aaron lifted the Asian championships, Thailand Open and Singapore Open titles while Wei Chong-Kai Wun bagged the Malaysian Masters and entered the Indonesian Open semi-finals under the guidance of Herry since early February.
It was such a turnaround especially after men’s doubles wilted at the All-England in March when none made it past the first round.
Wei Chong-Kai Wun also won the Indonesian Masters this year and reached the semi-finals of the Malaysian Open but that was before the arrival of Herry.
“The role of coach is more than just coaching,” said Herry, who has a four-year contract with BAM.
“It’s about making a difference in the life of the players. I want them to be successful on and off the court.
“It’s about trusting each other – the players and coach; also having a good communication, and being like a father to these players,” said Herry.
Herry’s calm manner and years of experience as Indonesia’s long-serving doubles coach for almost three decades is rubbing off on the Malaysians, and the challenge now is to keep the momentum going in the second half of the year.
“It’s a joy for a coach to see his players doing well. I’m so happy to see Man-Tee reaching the final of the Indonesian Open. Earlier, Aaron-Wooi Yik stayed solid for three weeks in a row,” said Herry.
“I think, the greater sense of accomplishment is seeing the change in the players’ mindset ... they are now playing with more confidence,” he added.
With a strong showing so far, naturally all eyes will be at the World Championships in Paris in August.
Since Aaron-Wooi Yik ended the country’s wait by winning the world title for the first time at the 2022 edition in Japan, Malaysia’s men’s doubles campaign has been rather quiet and it’s time to make some noise again.
In leading to the worlds, Herry’s boys will firstly be out make their marks at the back-to-back Japan Open from July 15-20 and China Open from July 22-27.
Last year, professional shuttlers Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani captured both the men’s doubles title in Japan and China.
