Rexy may switch doubles pairings for Thomas Cup Finals
News 2:48 PM
PETALING JAYA: Watch out for some surprises when national coach Rexy Mainaky names the country’s three best pairs for the Thomas Cup Finals challenge.
He may take a big gamble by not fielding the regular partners.
Yesterday, with none of the three back-up pairs achieving outstanding results in the German Open, Rexy said that he may go for the option of selecting the players based on their individual strength.
“I was looking for two main things in the German Open. I wanted to see the players’ results. I was also looking for the individual strength of all the players. I may not name the regular partners if there is a need to do so,” said Rexy.
The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) have shortlisted 11 doubles players for the Finals, which will be held at Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalil from May 9-16 but only six will be selected.
Those in the running are Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong, Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari-Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif, Lim Khim Wah-Chan Peng Soon, Hoon Thien How-Ong Soon Hock, Mak Hee Chun-Tan Wee Kiong and Goh Wei Shem.
In the ongoing German Open, Malaysia’s challenge ended in the men’s doubles with the exits of Thien How-Soon Hock and Hee Chun-Wee Kiong in the quarter-finals.
Hee Chun-Wee Kiong went down tamely 19-21, 12-21 to Yohan Hadikusumo Wiratama-Wong Wai Hong while Thien Hoon-Soon Hock went down fighting 14-21, 24-26 to second seeds Chen Hung-ling-Lin Yu-lang.
Khim Wah-Peng Soon bowed out in the opening round losing at 21-13, 18-21, 15-21 to Japanese pair Hiroyuki Endo-Yoshiteru Hirobe.
Rexy said it was important to name solid pairs for the Finals.
“The players did their best at the German Open but I think, some of them were under pressure as they wanted to make the selection for the Finals so badly,” said Rexy.
“I want to know which player was able to handle the pressure and complemented their partner well. Sometimes, individual strength counts. I can pair players with new partners who have some special skills and this combination can do wonders for the team.
“But it is still early days to finalise the team. Koo and Tan will have a chance to show what they are capable of at the All-England (March 9-14) while Zakry and Fairuzizuan have a chance to prove themselves at the Swiss Open (March 16-21).
Posted by Lucas Liau
on 2:48 PM.
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