PETALING JAYA: National men’s doubles head coach Herry Iman Pierngadi defended the decision to field scratch pairs during their final Group B tie against Japan at the Thomas Cup in Horsens, Denmark, last week.
Although the decision to split world No. 2 pair Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik provided mixed results during the tie against Japan, Herry said it was not an easy decision to make as they had to consider several factors.
Herry said fielding scratch pairs came after careful discussions with the rest of the coaching staff, and taking into account the players’ physical conditions, particularly Man Wei Chong.
“It was a team decision. We had discussed and decided that it was the best step to take,” said Herry when met at the Academy Badminton Malaysia on Tuesday (May 5).
“Wei Chong also informed us that he wasn’t in the best condition, saying he wasn’t quite ready due to some pain in his leg.
“So we have to look at how the men’s doubles could be fielded to deliver the best result. And that was the decision we made.
“Although the results were not in our favour, the players delivered to the maximum.”
During the final group stage tie against Japan, Malaysia fell 2-3, but qualified for the quarter-finals as second-best finishers in Group B.
Leong Jun Hao fell first to Kodai Naraoka, before the scratch pair of Aaron Chia-Tee Kai Wun evened things with a 16-21, 21-14, 21-19 win over Kakeru Kumagai-Hiroki Nishi.
However, Justin Hoh could not keep up with Yushi Tanaka and fell 15-21, 12-21.
Pressure was on the other scratch pair in Soh Wooi Yik-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani, but the duo gave the winning point away to Takumi Nomura-Yuichi Shimogami, who won 14-21, 21-19, 21-19.
Malaysia’s hopes of ending their 34-year wait for Thomas Cup glory were then dashed in the quarter-finals after they fell 0-3 to China, who went on to clinch their 12th title.
