BRILLIANT REXY
Coach’s bold move leads to Malaysia shocking Japan in Thomas Cup
THERE is a reason why Rexy Mainaky is one of the most sought after badminton coaches in the world. On Wednesday, the 54-year-old former Olympic champion displayed his tactical genius by steering Malaysia to their first victory over Japan in 14 years at the Thomas Cup in Bangkok.
Thanks to Rexy’s strategic planning in switching the doubles’ roles, Malaysia went on to slay the mighty Samurai 3-2 en route to reaching the quarter-finals as group winners for the first time since the 2016 edition in Kunshan, China.
In Malaysia’s final Group D tie at the Impact Arena, Rexy threw in the in-form world No 13 Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani as first doubles, and the scratch combination of world No 6 Aaron Chia and world No 10 Teo Ee Yi as second doubles.
It was indeed a brilliant stroke by the Indonesian legend, as Sze Fei-Izzuddin went on to upset reigning world champions Takuro Hoki-Yugo Kobayashi 21-19, 21-16 to give Malaysia a rousing 2-0 lead, after Lee Zii Jia drew first blood with his stunning 21-17, 21-8 win over world No 2 Kento Momota in the first singles.
Japan pulled one back through their second singles Kanta Tsuneyama (who defeated Liew Daren 21-16, 22-20), but it was Rexy’s masterful pairing of Aaron-Ee Yi that secured the overall tie with a 22-20, 21-17 win over Akira Koga-Yuta Watanabe in the second doubles.
When contacted by Timesport, Rexy said: “Scratch pairings don’t simply work, I always study the players beforehand. Their desire to win, their body language and how they communicate with me.
“Yes, these are some of the strategies that work in a team event and I want to thank God for his grace with our team.”
Rexy, who was influential in leading former internationals Tan Boon Heong-Koo Kien Keat to the 2006 Asian Games gold during his first stint as BAM doubles coach from 2005-2012, noted that Malaysia now have the options to test different combinations in future major events as well.
“Of course this doesn’t stop here. We have the options to play different combinations in future events.
“It’s every coach’s duty to study the possibilities in advance,” he added.
With the tie already won, Malaysia fielded 2017 Asian junior champion Leong Jun Hao as third singles, and although the 23-year-old fought hard, he succumbed 21-6, 19-21, 21-15 to world No 20 Kenta Nishimoto in a match that carried no bearing.
In the last eight last night, Malaysia played Group C runners up India.