Road to redemption: Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun were eliminated in the quarter-finals of the World Championships in August.
PETALING JAYA: Men’s doubles head coach Herry Iman Pierngadi is a man on a mission to make amends in 2026 despite producing encouraging results overall in his first year in Malaysia.
The Indonesian has identified three major tournaments as his main priorities for the new year – the World Championships, the Asian Games and the All-England.
And Herry needs no reminder of the disappointments he and his charges had to endure at the World Championships and All-England this year.
At the world meet in Paris in August, world No. 2 pair Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik and world No. 5 Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun were both eliminated in the quarter-finals.
The All-England campaign was even more painful as Malaysia’s men’s doubles representatives, despite their numbers, were all knocked out in the early rounds.
“I think we are still on track, but there were also failures such as at the World Championships, so we always need to learn and evaluate,” said Herry.
“There will be a World Championships in India, and that is one of my main targets because we could not achieve it this year. So for 2026, my focus will be heavily on the World Championships and also the All England.
“I want Malaysian players to win a gold medal at the Asian Games.”
At the same time, Herry is not overly concerned if rival nations have begun studying the playing patterns of his charges after a year in charge of the national camp.
He believes that while the men’s doubles field remains highly competitive, the overall level among elite pairs is relatively even, with the exception of South Korea’s Kim Won-ho-Seo Seung-jae, who have dominated tournaments throughout the year.
Herry said he would use all performance data and feedback gathered this season to further improve his players next year.
“Even before I came here, other countries already knew the style of Malaysian players.
“When I arrived, I made some changes, and maybe that surprised them, or maybe not, I do not know.
“But that is the nature of tournaments. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose,” he added.
