KUALA LUMPUR – National doubles coaching director Rexy Mainaky is disappointed with the performance shown by top men’s doubles pair Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik at the inaugural Super 1000 Malaysia Open.
The world No. 3, who won their maiden world championship title in August, crashed out in the second round on Tuesday after losing 10-21, 21-23 to China’s Liu Yu Chen-Ou Xuan Yi.
Following the match, Rexy described them as a “pair with no soul” as they played poorly, which did not reflect their status as world-class players.
“They might as well be playing on their own court by the looks of it. The opportunity to advance is there but I wonder if they ever thought about it.
“They seemed like a couple of players with no soul during the match.
“Even after taking the lead in the second set, it was difficult for them to remain consistent because they were just playing without any clear direction,” said the Indonesian.
Rexy stressed that given the support the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) has provided, Aaron-Wooi Yik should possess a sense of responsibility when playing on their home turf.
“The coaches and management (of BAM) have given full support, but the players need to be responsible, and when competing in a tournament they need to have the desire to win.
“I am disappointed because they played like it meant nothing, just hitting the shuttle and hoping for mistakes from the other side.
“Even in defeat, you must be able to command respect,” he said.
With that in mind, Rexy added that he will plan a meeting with all doubles players, individually, to understand what they wish to achieve before they depart for other tournaments. – The Vibes, January 13, 2023
