PETALING JAYA: Consistent performances will bring success.
That is the approach adopted by professional doubles coach Teo Kok Siang, who remains pragmatic despite the high expectations placed on Malaysian players to deliver a title at the World Championships in Paris next week.
Kok Siang knows that the performances of his two pairs – men’s doubles world No. 3 Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani and mixed doubles duo Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie – will be closely monitored by the Road to Gold (RTG) committee.
Instead of setting lofty targets, Kok Siang prefers his players to clear each hurdle step by step, with the main focus on producing their best performance.
“If I were to set targets, my approach is to go step by step. Let’s not talk about KPIs yet because my priority is to play well.
“For every tournament we enter, we want to give our best. Everyone hopes for a title, but I do not want to pile on pressure or make them feel burdened. I prefer to give encouragement and motivation so they can produce their best,” said Kok Siang.
While he acknowledges that progressing deep into the tournament is important as it offers plenty of ranking points, Kok Siang believes that if his players can perform at their best, success in the form of titles and improved world rankings will follow naturally.
For the record, the World Championships offer 1,450 ranking points from the opening round, with the champions earning 14,500 points and the runners-up 12,500.
“Chasing world ranking points is not our priority. I emphasise good performances and consistency because that matters more to me.
“The world ranking is something they want as well, but it comes second. I want them to be consistent with their performances, and if their level is good, the ranking will follow,” he added.
To remain in the RTG programme, athletes must stay within the world’s top 10 until the end of this year. For 2026, the requirement will be to remain in the top eight, with an even stricter condition in 2027 where they must improve their standing to world No. 4 in time for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
At present, Sze Fei-Izzuddin are ranked world No. 3 while Soon Huat-Shevon sit at No. 6.
Their status as seeded players at the World Championships also gives them the privilege of receiving a first-round bye.
