PETALING JAYA: National doubles coaching director Rexy Mainaky is confident that the tight scheduling involving the Thailand SEA Games and the World Tour Finals will not be a major problem for the players.
The SEA Games competition starts tomorrow and runs until Dec 14 at Thammasat University, Pathum Thani, while the Tour Finals will be from Dec 17-21 in Hangzhou.
The national players selected for the biennial Games and have also qualified for the prestigious season ender are Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun (men’s doubles), Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah (women’s doubles) and Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei (mixed doubles).
The only Malaysians who have made the cut for the Tour Finals and will not feature in the Games are independent mixed duo Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie.
Rexy said the players were used to playing in back-to-back tournaments.
“Our players are used to a hectic schedule. They have even played up to four back-to-back tournaments, so competing in both the SEA Games and Finals should not be a big problem,” said Rexy.
“There is the team and individual events in the Games, so I can say they will be playing in three consecutive tournaments this time.
“The players are all motivated and are in high spirits. They are looking forward to the Games.”
Aaron-Wooi Yik caught the eye when they made it into three straight finals in the Thailand Open, Malaysian Masters and Singapore Open in May and June.
The world No. 2 pair captured the titles in Thailand and Singapore and finished runners-up to Wei Chong-Kai Wun in Malaysia.
Pearly-Thinaah also impressed when they won the Thailand meet, reached the semi-finals and last eight in the home event and Singapore Open respectively before finishing second in the Indonesian Open.
