KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysia’s bold reshuffle of its men’s doubles combinations is not a sign of losing faith in its established stars, but a calculated move to build a stronger foundation for the country’s first badminton Olympic gold medal bid at Los Angeles 2028, said national doubles coaching director Rexy Mainaky.
Rexy said the decision to experiment with new pairings was made after discussions with men’s doubles head coach Herry Iman Pierngadi and Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) performance committee chairman Datuk Seri Lee Chong Wei, as the national body looks to identify its strongest combinations for the future.
He stressed that the changes were not made because BAM had lost confidence in Olympic bronze medallists Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, but because Malaysia must prepare early for the next Olympic cycle.
“We are looking ahead to 2028. It does not mean Aaron and Wooi Yik no longer have potential, but we also have to consider the younger players who are improving.
“Why not try new combinations between younger players and more experienced athletes? Through these trials, we may discover pairs that can become our future mainstays,” he told reporters at a press conference today.
BAM recently announced several new men’s doubles partnerships for the China Open, Taiwan Open and Korea Masters.
Among the changes, Aaron Chia will partner Aaron Tai, while Man Wei Chong will team up with Soh Wooi Yik.
For the Japan Open, Tee Kai Wun will not be paired with Aaron Chia due to ranking and qualification point considerations.
Rexy explained that the new combinations were formed based on tactical suitability and chemistry on court, rather than simply pairing two highly ranked players together.
“We cannot assume that two good players will automatically become a good partnership. What matters is what is needed on court.
“We need to understand what type of partner Aaron requires and what characteristics each player needs. That is the main consideration when creating combinations,” he said.
The Indonesian coach added that all the new partnerships remain under assessment and are not guaranteed to become permanent.
BAM, he said, will monitor their performances and development before deciding whether any of the combinations have the potential to become long-term solutions.
“At the early stage, we cannot expect everything to be perfect immediately. However, the coaches can see whether the progress of these partnerships shows promise for the future.
“If a pair shows positive development, there is no reason why they cannot become a permanent combination,” he said.
Rexy said the reshuffle also provides younger players with valuable exposure by allowing them to compete alongside experienced shuttlers at the highest level.
He highlighted China and South Korea as examples of nations that regularly adjusted their doubles partnerships before eventually finding successful combinations.
“We want to create a new environment and give younger players more experience. What China and Korea have done shows there is a clear plan behind every change they make.
“Our bigger objective is how Malaysia can deliver its first badminton Olympic gold medal in 2028,” he said.
Rexy also suggested that a similar approach could be considered for the women’s doubles and mixed doubles departments if it benefits the overall development of national players.
“Why not? We should not be afraid to make changes. This is not simply an experiment; it is based on the coaches’ observations of players’ ability and compatibility during training and competitions.
“If it helps player development and improves our chances in the future, this approach can be applied across all doubles events,” he said. – June 12, 2026