PETALING JAYA: Relying on a small group can come back to bite and that is something Rexy Mainaky wants to avoid.
The national doubles coaching director Rexy wants all players to carry the same responsibility as the elite in delivering results for the country - and he is hoping it will start at the Asian Championships starting on Tuesday in Ningbo, China.
Malaysia are used to counting on elite pairs such as world No. 2 women’s duo Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah, mixed doubles world champions Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei, and defending champions Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik.
Rexy has faith in all especially when they have already shown strong potential and commitment in training.
“A few days ago, I gathered all the coaches. Of course, we can say that countries like China and Korea also rely on the same players who consistently win titles. But when we look at our players, many of them have potential.
“So why should we only depend on Aaron-Wooi Yik, Pearly-Thinaah or Tang Jie-Ee Wei? “It is not that we do not want to rely on them, because they have proven themselves in tournaments and most of the time, they deliver what we expect.
“But if we send 100 soldiers to war and only depend on two or three, that is not right. “With that in mind, I told all the coaches to push other pairs as well so they do not go there lacking confidence.
“They must feel that when they compete, they have to be ready and deliver results. That is the mentality every player must have,” said Rexy.
The Indonesian also believes that what separates them from the country’s elite players at the moment is their mentality in aiming for podium finishes.
As such, Rexy does not want the others to hide behind their elite teammates and hold themselves back from going further in the tournament.
“We can see they train as well. What is the difference between them and Aaron-Soh Wooi Yik? They train with Pearly-Thinaah, they train with Tang Jie-Ee Wei.
“But the factor I see is mindset. It is not about fear, but the way they think. Thinking that if they go there, Aaron-Wooi Yik or Tang Jie-Ee Wei are still around. That cannot be the mindset. It must be ‘I am me’. When I compete, I am myself.
“It cannot be ‘If I win, good; if I lose, it is okay.’ That kind of thinking is not acceptable. “When they go there, they must be firm in believing that they have trained every day, twice a day, week after week, month after month, and everything has been prepared.
“So their mentality should be that they are ready to deliver. That is what must be in their minds,” he added.
In the men’s doubles, Malaysia will also be represented by Wan Arif Wan Junaidi-Yap Roy King, alongside independent pair Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani.
The women’s doubles will see three young pairs making their debut namely Carmen Ting-Ong Xin Yee, Low Zi Yu-Noraqilah Maisarah Ramdan, and Choong Jie Yu-Vanessa Ng.
Meanwhile, in the mixed doubles, Hoo Pang Ron-Cheng Su Yin will compete alongside two independent pairs, Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie and Wong Tien Ci-Lim Chiew Sien.
