PETALING JAYA: Independent doubles coach Ameer Amri Zainuddin has taken responsibility for Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani’s quarter-final defeat at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.
Sze Fei-Izzuddin had gone to Japan with hopes of challenging for the gold medal but fell 13-21, 17-21 to China’s Liang Weikeng-Wang Chang at the Ichinomiya City Municipal Gymnasium in Aichi.
More disappointing was the fact that the Malaysians were nowhere near their best in the match.
Ameer admitted Sze Fei-Izzuddin did not play to their usual level but defended his charges, saying they had still tried their best against the world No. 3 pair.
"Of course, I’m disappointed with the result because we came here with the target of winning a medal.
"But credit must be given to the players because they gave their best.
"I would also like to thank the entire team and support staff throughout the tournament. As their coach, I take responsibility for this result.
"We will learn from this defeat and come back stronger," said Ameer when contacted.
Ameer only recently took over as head coach of the independent set-up based in Sri Petaling after Teo Kok Siang returned to the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) earlier this month.
He has since brought in former national player Fairuzizuan Tazari to help coach Sze Fei-Izzuddin, although Fairuzizuan was unable to join them for the Asian Games campaign.
The quarter-final defeat meant Sze Fei-Izzuddin also missed the chance to keep Malaysia’s men’s doubles hopes alive after Aaron Chia-Tee Kai Wun had earlier gone down in the second round to South Korea’s defending champions Kim Won-ho-Seo Seung-jae.
It was a disappointing end for the Malaysian men’s doubles pairs, who had been expected to challenge for gold and end the country’s 20-year wait since Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong won the title at Doha 2006.
