Rexy urges patience as Malaysia’s mixed doubles pairs struggle
Coaching changes and Toh Ee Wei’s injury are factors behind the squad’s difficulties, the national doubles coaching director said.
Malaysia’s mixed doubles players need time to adjust to a new coaching approach after a series of disappointing results, national doubles coaching director Rexy Mainaky said following two first-round exits at the Kumamoto Masters.
Rexy said the BA of Malaysia (BAM) squad was adapting after former head coach Nova Widianto left in July. He is overseeing the department alongside Teo Kok Siang and Pang Cheh Chang, and said he hoped the players would respond quickly to the changes.
At the Kumamoto Masters, world No. 32 Jimmy Wong-Cheng Su Yin were beaten 21-8, 23-21 by China’s sixth-ranked Guo Xin Wa-Chen Fang Hui. Chen Tang Jie-Chan Wen Tse also exited in the opening round, losing 21-15, 21-10 to Japan’s Yuichi Shimogami-Sayaka Hobara.
Jimmy-Su Yin have now suffered three successive first-round defeats, having also gone out at that stage at the Denmark and French Opens. Their earlier results included a Japan Open semi-final in July, a Korea Masters quarter-final in August and a last-16 finish at the Arctic Open.
Tang Jie-Wen Tse have played four tournaments together without reaching a quarter-final. They made the last 16 at the Arctic, Denmark and Korea Opens. Tang Jie has used different partners since Toh Ee Wei injured her knee at the Singapore Open in May; Rexy said her absence also needed to be considered.
Nova returned to Indonesia after leaving BAM on July 31. His tenure began in January 2023 and included coaching Tang Jie-Ee Wei to Malaysia’s first mixed doubles world title in Paris. Kok Siang rejoined the national coaching set-up on Sept 1.
