PETALING JAYA: Men’s doubles head coach Herry Iman Pierngadi hopes his players can bounce back with a stronger showing at the French Open this week despite the unrest in the country.
Paris and several other major cities in France have been hit by riots, large-scale demonstrations and violence since Saturday, prompting the government to impose partial curfews in several areas from yesterday evening following incidents of looting during the protests.
Malaysia’s men’s doubles players are in Paris hoping to put last week’s disappointing outing in Odense behind them after several pairs failed to perform up to expectations.
Herry wants them to respond quickly and show an improvement this week.
“I hope they will be better prepared and perform better this week, but at the same time they have to stay alert because the situation in Paris is quite chaotic,” said Herry.
World No. 4 men’s doubles pair Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik were in the spotlight during Sunday’s Denmark Open final against Indonesia’s Fajar Alfian-Shohibul Fikri.
They not only failed to produce their best in an 8-21, 11-21 defeat that cost them the title, but Aaron was also seen having a tense exchange with Wooi Yik during the match.
However, Herry was unable to comment on their performances in Odense last week as he was not there, with his assistant Muhammad Miftakh accompanying the players throughout the European leg.
Herry has been unable to travel to Europe as he is still sorting out some passport matters.
In Paris this week, Aaron-Wooi Yik will face China’s He Jiting-Ren Xiangyu in the first round, while Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun, who suffered an early exit last week, take on Japan’s Kakeru Kumagai-Hiroki Nishi.
Newly formed pair Aaron Tai-Yap Roy King will begin their campaign against the United States’ Chen Zhi Yi-Presley Smith.
Three other independent men’s doubles pairs are also in the fray, with Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani drawn against Denmark’s Christian Kjaer-Rasmus Kjaer.
Veterans Nur Azriyn Ayub-Tan Wee Kiong meet Thailand’s Peeratchai Sukphun-Pakkapon Teeraratsakul, while Chia Wei Jie-Teo Ee Yi take on China’s Hu Keyuan-Lin Xiangyi.
