Source: REUTERS/IVAN ALVARADO
[Saba Sports News] The 2024 Malaysia Open is scheduled to take place
from January 9th to 14th. Malaysian badminton players are actively preparing
for the competition and are determined to secure the championship on home soil.
In a recent interview with the media, Rexy Mainaky, the coaching director of
the Malaysian national badminton team, outlined his expectations for Aaron Chia
Teng Fong and SOH Wooi Yik, urging them to clinch the men’s doubles title at the
Malaysian Open. Rexy believes that in today’s highly competitive badminton
doubles landscape, the top pairs are closely matched. Therefore, the draw
cannot be relied upon to determine success, and players must not expect
favorable draws to secure the championship. Historical stats reveals that the
“Fengyi Combination” had a poor performance in last year’s Malaysian
Open, being eliminated in the second round. Nevertheless, they persisted in
their rigorous training and eventually triumphed at the Denmark Open in October
of this year, ending their championship drought and securing their first Open
title. This victory significantly bolstered their self-confidence. Considering
the event’s history, it has been a decade since a Malaysian pair won the men’s
doubles championship at the Malaysian Open; Goh V Shem and Lim Khim Wah
achieved this feat in 2014. The “Fengyi Combination” represents
Malaysia’s hope to end this 10-year wait.