Mental fortitude key, Rexy tells shuttlers after crowd hostility in Jakarta

KUALA LUMPUR – National badminton coaching director Rexy Mainaky has urged Malaysian shuttlers to be mentally resilient in the face of jeers from opposing fans.

His comments came after the world No. 7 men’s doubles pair, Man Wei Chong and Tee Kai Wun, failed to reach the final of the Indonesia Open.

They were beaten by home favourites Sabar Karyaman Gutama and Reza Pahlevi Isfahani—ranked eighth in the world—in a 59-minute semi-final clash at the Istora Stadium in Jakarta on June 7.

The Malaysians lost 18-21, 21-12, 18-21 in a match marred by repeated booing from the crowd each time they stepped up to serve.

The defeat marked their second loss in three meetings against the Indonesian pair and dashed their hopes of securing a second title in Jakarta this year, following their Indonesia Masters triumph in January.

Speaking to reporters at Menara KBS in Putrajaya today, Rexy said that such crowd behaviour is part and parcel of elite sports and that athletes must develop the mental toughness to stay focused under pressure.

“Booing is part of sports. Fans have the right to express themselves. As athletes, we must train ourselves to overcome such situations instead of dwelling on them,” said Rexy.

“Situations like these happen in many sports, including football. Our athletes must remain focused throughout the match. Yes, Wei Chong did tell me he was affected by the crowd, but I reminded him it’s part of the game and he needs to keep going.

“Playing at Istora is never easy. The fans are known for their intensity, and our players have to learn to handle such atmospheres.”

Despite the setback, Wei Chong and Kai Wun can take pride in their season so far. This was their fourth semi-final appearance of the year, and they have already clinched two titles—the Indonesia Masters and the Malaysia Masters.

To date, they have won five career titles and finished as runners-up three times, including in last year’s prestigious Indonesia Open, a World Tour Super 1000 event. For reaching the semi-finals this year, the duo earned US$20,300 (RM85,898).

Meanwhile, Rexy also praised the progress of the national men’s doubles squad under the guidance of coach Herry Iman Pierngadi.

“We must acknowledge the strides made by our players in recent tournaments. They’re improving steadily, and credit must go to coach Herry for bringing out the best in them. I’m confident we’ll see even greater success under his leadership,” said Rexy.

The turnaround has been impressive, especially considering the dismal showing at the All England in March, where none of the Malaysian men’s doubles pairs progressed past the first round.

Since then, the doubles squad under the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) has secured five titles in the first half of the year.

Former world champions Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik have lifted the Asian Championships, Thailand Open, and Singapore Open titles, while Man and Tee added the Malaysia Masters and reached the Indonesia Open semi-finals—all under Herry’s stewardship since February. – June 10 , 2025