KUALA LUMPUR: After the nation's doubles players fell in the Malaysia Open semi-finals last night, what are national coaching director Rexy Mainaky's thoughts on the setbacks?
He told Timesport that mixed doubles Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei and men's doubles Man Wei Chong-Toh Ee Wei need to play smart and have killer instinct if they are to beat the big guns.
World No. 5 Tang Jie-Ee Wei, despite holding the upper hand at the beginning of the first two games against China's Feng Yan Zhe-Huang Dong Ping, allowed the word No. 1 to prevail at the Axiata Arena.
The Malaysians didn't deserve to lose in straight games (21-19, 21-14), but a wily Dong Ping — who won an Olympic gold with former partner Wang Yil Yu in 2020 — turned the tide despite trailing 5-1 and 9-5 in the first and second games respectively.
In men's doubles, world No. 14 Wei Chong-Kai Wun rallied from 16-20 down in the first game to win 26-24 against Chen Bo Yang-Liu Yi. But the world No. 18 Chinese duo soon effectively changed tactics and seized control.
Rexy, who himself was a master of tactical change in his heyday with partner Ricky Subagja, said Malaysian players must have the nous to overcome the rough passage during a match.
"Our pairs need to be smart and should be able to vary their game. Once you are in the lead, don't look back as that will allow your opponents to regain confidence," said Rexy.
"Tang Jie-Ee Wei had been playing well from the World Tour Finals (in Hangzhou last month) where they reached the final until the first game in the semi-finals here. But the mental strength is still not there to reach the final or win the title.
"When they led 9-5 in the second game, they were still not sure of pushing to reach 11 points first.
This hesitation let the Chinese pair regain their confidence to go 11-9 and always keep the lead after that."
On Tuesday, Tang Jie-Ee Wei's world ranking will move up from fifth to third. At such level, they need to have tactical maturity to deal with tough situations on court.
"The same thing happened to Wei Chong-Kai Wun as they struggled to pull away and allowed Bo Yang-Liu Yi to keep the lead.
"Wei Chong-Kai Wun's strength is attacking from mid-court and front court, but they couldn't dominate that area. Their smashes were easily returned by Bo Yang-Liu Yi.
"We have to sit with the players and make them realise the shortcomings and also get feedback from them."
Rexy also hopes to see a revival from men's doubles Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik and women's doubles Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah after both pairs crashed out prematurely from the Malaysia Open in spite of their world No. 6 rankings.
Olympic bronze medallists Aaron-Wooi Yik were expected to end Malaysia's drought in the men's doubles since Goh V Shem-Lim Khim Wah's triumph in 2014, but they lost instead in the second round to world No. 27 Lee Fang Chih-Lee Fang Jen of Taiwan,
Pearly-Thinaah flopped in their Super 1000 home event, going down to Indonesian new combination Lanny Tria Mayasari-Siti Fadia Ramadhanti.
"The fire in Aaron-Wooi Yik was missing and Pearly-Thinaah looked dazed. I hope to see them bounce back," said Rexy.
"When things were not going their way, we could see their body language was different. They are down, they have to rise and do better."
The revival of the national pairs may not be so soon at next week's India Open in New Delhi on Tuesday and the Indonesia Masters on Jan 21-16, but they need to do well at the All England in March.