As the badminton calendar moves into a crucial phase with Olympic qualification points and national pride on the line, Malaysia’s doubles coaching director Rexy Mainaky has issued a firm yet constructive message to the country’s rising young pairs: elevate your world rankings or face the unwanted consequence of clashing against fellow Malaysians in early rounds of international tournaments.
The warning isn’t just about competitiveness—it’s about survival and growth in a landscape where early exits are detrimental to development and morale. For Malaysia’s future doubles champions, the message is clear: step up, or risk stagnation.
The Pattern of Early Domestic Clashes
The growing talent pool in Malaysian badminton, particularly in men’s and mixed doubles, has inadvertently created a bottleneck situation. With multiple Malaysian pairs floating around similar world rankings—often outside the top 20—they are frequently drawn to face one another in the initial rounds of BWF tournaments. While such encounters showcase the country’s depth, they also diminish international exposure.
For instance, the recent Malaysia Masters and Indonesia Open saw several young Malaysian pairs eliminate one another early, with only the highest-ranked pairs progressing deeper. This trend prompted Rexy, a former Olympic gold medalist and one of the most respected figures in doubles coaching, to issue a challenge to his protégés.
“It’s simple,” Rexy said during a post-match press briefing. “If you don’t want to play your own teammates in round one or round two, improve your ranking. There’s no shortcut.”
Why Rankings Matter More Than Ever
In international badminton, world rankings play a decisive role in tournament seeding. Top 8 pairs are seeded to avoid each other in early rounds, while those ranked below often have no such protection. For young Malaysian pairs like Junaidi Arif/Haikal Nazri or Yap Roy King/Wan Arif, hovering between 25th and 40th place on the BWF charts, the challenge is acute.
Facing fellow Malaysians early in tournaments denies them two critical assets: the experience of facing a wider array of international opponents and the opportunity to earn valuable ranking points through progressive matchups. This scenario not only disrupts their upward trajectory but also limits Malaysia’s chances of placing more than one pair on the podium.
A Growing Pool of Contenders
Malaysia’s recent talent surge in men’s doubles and mixed doubles reflects years of development by BAM (Badminton Association of Malaysia) and the rise of independent players. However, this success has come with growing pains.
The senior elite pair of Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik still anchors the national squad, but the likes of Goh Sze Fei/Nur Izzuddin, Man Wei Chong/Tee Kai Wun, and Arif/Haikal are all capable of challenging for titles. In mixed doubles, Chen Tang Jie/Toh Ee Wei have emerged as Malaysia’s top pair, but they are being chased closely by Tan Kian Meng/Lai Pei Jing and a group of promising juniors.
The result? In events like the Thailand Open, Singapore Open, and even European legs such as the Swiss and German Opens, Malaysian pairs are often locked in intra-national battles early, eliminating each other and leaving fans with bittersweet results.
Rexy’s Strategic Push for Separation
Rexy’s emphasis is more than a motivational speech. He has been actively adjusting training, pairing strategies, and tournament planning to help young pairs avoid early exits. Some key steps include:
- Selective Tournament Entries: Young pairs are being encouraged to play in Super 100 and Super 300 tournaments more consistently to gather easier points and build confidence.
- Rotation in Training Partners: By mixing top pairs with juniors in training sessions, Rexy ensures that learning is multi-directional and performance gaps are visible.
- Data-Driven Analysis: The coaching team is using video analytics to pinpoint flaws in tactical decision-making, especially in pressure scenarios.
“We are trying to be strategic,” said Rexy. “Sending young players to a Super 750 or Super 1000 without proper momentum is risky. Ranking is earned through wins, and wins come easier when we build step by step.”
The Psychological Toll of Early Internal Matchups
While the technical and tactical aspects of these clashes are well-studied, the psychological impact on young players is often overlooked. Losing to a teammate, particularly in the early rounds, carries a different emotional weight. It affects not only confidence but also internal team dynamics.
One former junior international, who preferred to remain anonymous, revealed: “When I lost to a fellow Malaysian in round one, it hurt more than losing to a foreign opponent. There’s pride, and sometimes awkwardness back at camp.”
Rexy is acutely aware of this. His approach includes mental strengthening sessions and sports psychology workshops designed to frame internal matches as healthy competition rather than pressure cookers.
Spotlight on Arif/Haikal The Case Study
Among the young pairs Rexy is focused on, Junaidi Arif and Haikal Nazri represent an intriguing case. Once dubbed the ‘future of Malaysian men’s doubles’, they have found themselves in a mid-ranking plateau for over a year. Despite flashes of brilliance, consistency has eluded them.
Their recent first-round loss to fellow Malaysians Man/Tee in the Malaysia Open was a turning point. “We were not mentally ready. Maybe we underestimated them,” Arif admitted. Rexy’s response was firm: “You can’t take shortcuts to greatness. Every match counts.”
In the next two months, Arif/Haikal are set to play in the Vietnam Open and Indonesia International Challenge—tournaments where they are expected to go far. These events are crucial, not just for confidence but for rankings. A semifinal or final appearance could propel them closer to the top 20, opening the doors to better draws and less intra-national friction.
Mixed Doubles Conundrum
In mixed doubles, the issue is equally urgent. Chen Tang Jie/Toh Ee Wei have shown they belong among the elite, having beaten world-class pairs in Japan and Indonesia. Yet, several promising partnerships are waiting for breakthroughs.
The likes of Yap Roy King/Valeree Siow and Wong Ling Ching/Chan Peng Soon have tremendous potential but are stuck fighting each other for BAM’s attention—and tournament progression. Early-round domestic clashes slow their rise and frustrate their development curve.
To counter this, Rexy has proposed giving these pairs staggered exposure, sending one to Asian tournaments and another to European circuits, to avoid overlap. “We can’t have all our eggs in one basket. Each pair needs space to grow,” he explained.
Balancing Internal Competition and Team Spirit
A critical challenge Rexy faces is balancing internal rivalry with team cohesion. The doubles squad trains together, eats together, and travels together. Too much internal competition could breed tension. Too little, and hunger wanes.
Rexy walks this tightrope with his experience as a player. He emphasizes that competition among teammates should mirror healthy sibling rivalry—not toxic ambition.
“I told them—look at Indonesia in the 90s. We had three top pairs. We pushed each other, but we celebrated together,” Rexy said, referring to his time with Ricky Subagja, Candra Wijaya, and others.
To instill this mindset, the team holds monthly bonding activities, from futsal tournaments to charity outreach programs. Team dinners are mandatory after major tournaments—win or lose.
The Road to Paris 2024 and Beyond
While most young pairs may not make it to Paris 2024, the qualification window has laid a foundation for 2028. Rexy’s master plan includes building a ranking pyramid—ensuring that by 2026, Malaysia has at least three pairs in the top 15 across men’s and mixed doubles.
This will not only give the country Olympic medal hopes but also solve the current problem of early internal showdowns. Higher rankings naturally lead to better draws, more favorable matchups, and increased tournament longevity.
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