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BAM sees new doubles pairings' potential despite initial loss
🇲🇾 Malaysia /Sports

BAM sees new doubles pairings' potential despite initial loss

From Utusan Malaysia · () Malay

Translated from Malay, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Context piece
  • Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) secretary-general Datuk Kenny Goh stated that the new men's doubles pairing's initial loss is not a sign of failure.
  • Goh emphasized that the coaching staff's decisions regarding player combinations require time for evaluation before the LA 2028 Olympic qualifiers.
  • The new pairings, including Man Wei Chong with Soh Wooi Yik, will be closely monitored in upcoming tournaments like the China Open before a final decision is made.

The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) is not concerned about the recent debut loss of its new men's doubles pair, Man Wei Chong and Soh Wooi Yik, at the Japan Open. Datuk Kenny Goh, BAM's Secretary General, believes the coaching team's strategic reshuffling of pairs requires time to yield results and should not be judged solely on one tournament's outcome.

As an administrator, I respect the decisions made by the coaching staff. These are joint decisions, and I am sure they have their own plans regarding the doubles combinations.

— Datuk Kenny GohBAM Secretary General explaining the rationale behind the new doubles pairings.

"As an administrator, I respect the decisions made by the coaching staff. These are joint decisions, and I am sure they have their own plans regarding the doubles combinations," Goh stated. He highlighted that this was only the first tournament for the new partnership, and the coaches will continue to monitor all pairs' progress before making comprehensive assessments. The ultimate goal is to finalize decisions before the Olympic qualifying season for the Los Angeles 2028 Games begins.

The reshuffle in the men's doubles sector was a collective decision by the coaching staff, aimed at finding the best combinations. Soh Wooi Yik was previously partnered with Aaron Chia, who will now team up with Aaron Tai. Other new pairings include Kai Wun with Yap Roy King, and Arif Junaidi with Kang Khai Xing. The new combination of Wei Chong and Wooi Yik lost their first match at the Japan Open 23-21, 17-21, 16-21 to Taiwan's Lee Fang Chih-Lee Fang Jen.

This was only the first tournament for the new partnership, and the coaches will continue to monitor all pairs' progress before making comprehensive assessments.

— Datuk Kenny GohBAM Secretary General emphasizing the need for time to evaluate the new badminton pairings.

BAM has not set a short-term deadline for evaluating these experimental pairings, acknowledging that the players need time to adapt. Another test awaits them at the China Open next week. "We still have the China Open next week. I believe the coaches will continue to monitor the performance of each pair before making an assessment," Goh added. The association aims to solidify these decisions before the Olympic qualifiers commence.

We still have the China Open next week. I believe the coaches will continue to monitor the performance of each pair before making an assessment.

— Datuk Kenny GohBAM Secretary General looking ahead to the next tournament for evaluating the new pairings.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Utusan Malaysia in Malay. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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