SEA GAMES: A GOLDEN DOUBLE IN BADMINTON POSSIBLE - REXY

PETALING JAYA, Oct 18 (Bernama) -- National doubles coaching director Rexy Mainaky believes that Malaysia can win at least two badminton gold medals at the Dec 9-20 SEA Games in Thailand.

And he thinks they will be delivered by 2025 World Championships mixed doubles champions Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei and 2025 World Championships women's doubles runners-up Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah.

"At present, we have a chance (to win gold medals) in mixed doubles and women's doubles. These are the two events I dare say (we can win) now. In mixed doubles, the threat will come from Dechapol-Supissara (Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Supissara Paewsampran), as they will be playing on home ground.

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"If Pearly-Thinaah are in peak condition, we can get gold in women's doubles as well. But we don't want to put pressure on them since this will also be their first SEA Games outing,” he said after the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) Council meeting here today.

Rexy, however, did not rule out the possibility that Malaysia could also clinch a gold medal in men's doubles.

He said the national badminton team can expect a torrid time from Indonesia and Thailand, who will be just as motivated to steal the show.

"In this region, we have Indonesia and host Thailand (as our toughest challengers). Indonesia have yet to win many titles, they will surely look at this (Thailand SEA Games) as their best opportunity. In the past few championships, it's obvious that Indonesia's doubles pairs have managed to get the better of our top pairs,” he said.

In addition to Tang Jie-Ee Wei and Pearly-Thinaah, BAM are also banking on former men's doubles world champions Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik.

The others bound for the Thailand SEA Games are Leong Jun Hao and Justin Hoh (men's singles); and K. Letshanaa and Wong Ling Ching (women's singles).

BAM are also counting on Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun (men's doubles); Go Pei Kee-Teoh Mei Xing (women's doubles); and Hoo Pang Ron-Cheng Su Yin (mixed doubles) to turn on the style.

At the 2023 edition in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Malaysia sent their backup shuttlers and returned home with two silver and four bronze medals to finish behind Indonesia, who bagged five golds, three silvers and three bronzes; and Thailand, who had a 2-2-3 medal haul.

-- BERNAMA