Our strategy worked, says doubles coach Rexy
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Loading... - Muyang Liang
- 06 Sep 2022
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Malaysian badminton doubles coach Rexy Mainaky has explained the strategy that led men’s doubles pair Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik to becoming world champions.
He said knowing that it was not easy to defeat Indonesia’s top pair, nicknamed The Daddies, he had advised Aaron and Wooi Yik to opt for longer rallies and not to rush in receiving the returns.
“We could see how good Mohammad Ahsan-Hendra Setiawan played from the first round to the semi-finals, they even dominated the first set today,” Rexy said in a post-match interview with the Badminton World Federation.
“I told Aaron-Wooi Yik that, in terms of speed, they are better and can challenge Ahsan-Hendra, but they need to build self-confidence,” he said.
Aaron-Wooi Yik, ranked world number six, scored a 21-19, 21-14 victory against three-time world champions Ahsan-Hendra of Indonesia for their maiden international title.
It also ended Malaysia’s 45-year wait for a world championship crown, just days ahead of the National Day celebrations on Aug 31.
Rexy said that since he returned as deputy coaching director of the Badminton Association of Malaysia last October, he had focused more on setting a winning mindset and building confidence for Aaron-Wooi Yik.
“If we talk about their level, we don’t talk much about the skills and techniques, there’s nothing much to change over there. Only the things like how they believe when playing against top-class players, thoughts like ‘with my skills, I can compete against anyone.’
“Then try to reduce their unforced errors and negative thoughts. Just all these things I needed to improve (in them)…So when all these things connect, the skills come out,” he added.
Commenting on the criticism of the shuttlers for being jinxed in failing at the semi-finals, Rexy said such criticism should only serve to build a stronger mentality for the athletes. Read More...
