Coaching director Rexy Mainaky believes Malaysia’s doubles pairs can win badminton gold at Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games, though sets silver target.
MALAYSIAN doubles coaching director Rexy Mainaky believes the national shuttlers have a good chance of returning with the gold medal at the 2026 Aich-Nagoya Asian Games, which will be held from Sept 19-Oct 4.
However, the Indonesian-born coach does not want to put too much pressure on his shuttlers, and prefers to adopt a more realistic approach by setting an initial target of silver and bronze medals for his charges.
Rexy said his confidence was based, among others, on the partnerships of Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Mohd Rumsani and Aaron Chia-Tee Kai Wun (men’s doubles); as well as Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah (women’s doubles); and Chen Tang Jie-Cheng Su Yin (mixed doubles).
“Certainly, our target has to realistically be silver and bronze. But, deep down, I believe that my players can deliver more than that.
“Whoever is here, we are confident they want to win the gold medal,” he told reporters after a visit by the deputy chief de mission to the national badminton squad’s training venue at Akademi Badminton Malaysia (ABM) in Bukit Kiara here today.
He said the draw would play an important role, especially for pairs who are not among the top seeds and could potentially face leading contenders in the early rounds.
“If they can get past tough opponents, their chances of winning the gold medal will be quite high. We hope that when the draw is made, it will serve as a motivation for them,” he said.
Commenting on the shuttlers’ preparations, Rexy said he was satisfied with their progress after Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin and mixed doubles pair Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie joined the training sessions.
Rexy said several aspects involving players and the coaches had also been fine-tuned, adding that their focus in the final week would be to ensure the players’ health, concentration and motivation were at their best before they begin their campaign.
Malaysia last won the badminton gold medal at the Asiad through Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong in men’s doubles at the Doha edition in 2006. In the 2022 Hangzhou edition, Aaron-Soh Wooi Yik returned home with the men’s doubles bronze medal.
Badminton is one of the sports that has the potential to contribute medals to Malaysia, who are targeting six golds, seven silvers and 20 bronzes at Aichi-Nagoya 2026.
