By K.M. Boopathy
AS far as national doubles coach Rexy Mainaky is concerned, Malaysia are capable of winning the men's doubles gold in the Manila Sea Games on Nov 27-Dec 5 as the pressure will be tremendous on the Indonesians.
Rexy, a multiple gold medallist in the Sea Games, knows how stressful it can be when competing for Indonesia and does not feel that Luluk Hadiyanto-Alven Yulianto and Markis Kido-Hendra Setiawan are up to the challenge.
Although Rexy was cautious not to completely write off the Indonesian challenge, he feels confident that his charges Chan Chong Ming-Koo Kien Keat or Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah can strike in Manila.
Although Sea Games is only a regional event, Indonesia take it very seriously and always demand the best from their players. This will put tremendous pressure on their men's doubles pairs, said Rexy at the Juara Stadium yesterday.
Luluk-Alven and Markis-Hendra could struggle and this is where we must take the advantage.
In terms of performance, we have a 55 percent edge over both Indonesian pairs. They are still the favourites and this makes it easier for our players.
I feel the draw will also favour us. Luluk-Alven may play Tan Fook-Wan Wah, while Chong Ming-Kien Keat should meet Markis-Hendra and this is fine with me.
Luluk-Alven, the World No 3, have a bad track record against Tan Fook-Wan Wah, while Rexy is confident Chong Ming-Kien Keat has the speed and tactics to neutralise Markis-Hendra.
In the 2003 Vietnam Sea Games, Tan Fook-Wan Wah defeated compatriots Chew Choon Eng-Chang Kim Wai for the gold and if Rexy's prediction is accurate, it would be the same scenario in Manila.
However, Rexy expects a tougher fight between the two rivals in the team event and singled out the match between Lee Chong Wei and Taufik Hidayat as the key encounter in the final.
The first singles is very crucial for us. A good start will always lift the performance of the team and if Taufik wins, Indonesia will have the upper hand, said Rexy.
We must try to win at least one of the first two singles. This will eventually give the our doubles the confidence.
However, Malaysia have only won the team gold three times (1989, 1991 and 2001) since Indonesia started competing in the Sea Games in 1977 and it will be a tough hurdle again Manila. (New Straits Times)
Source: http://www.badmintonplanet.com/cgi-bin/news/1105/0121105.html
AS far as national doubles coach Rexy Mainaky is concerned, Malaysia are capable of winning the men's doubles gold in the Manila Sea Games on Nov 27-Dec 5 as the pressure will be tremendous on the Indonesians.
Rexy, a multiple gold medallist in the Sea Games, knows how stressful it can be when competing for Indonesia and does not feel that Luluk Hadiyanto-Alven Yulianto and Markis Kido-Hendra Setiawan are up to the challenge.
Although Rexy was cautious not to completely write off the Indonesian challenge, he feels confident that his charges Chan Chong Ming-Koo Kien Keat or Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah can strike in Manila.
Although Sea Games is only a regional event, Indonesia take it very seriously and always demand the best from their players. This will put tremendous pressure on their men's doubles pairs, said Rexy at the Juara Stadium yesterday.
Luluk-Alven and Markis-Hendra could struggle and this is where we must take the advantage.
In terms of performance, we have a 55 percent edge over both Indonesian pairs. They are still the favourites and this makes it easier for our players.
I feel the draw will also favour us. Luluk-Alven may play Tan Fook-Wan Wah, while Chong Ming-Kien Keat should meet Markis-Hendra and this is fine with me.
Luluk-Alven, the World No 3, have a bad track record against Tan Fook-Wan Wah, while Rexy is confident Chong Ming-Kien Keat has the speed and tactics to neutralise Markis-Hendra.
In the 2003 Vietnam Sea Games, Tan Fook-Wan Wah defeated compatriots Chew Choon Eng-Chang Kim Wai for the gold and if Rexy's prediction is accurate, it would be the same scenario in Manila.
However, Rexy expects a tougher fight between the two rivals in the team event and singled out the match between Lee Chong Wei and Taufik Hidayat as the key encounter in the final.
The first singles is very crucial for us. A good start will always lift the performance of the team and if Taufik wins, Indonesia will have the upper hand, said Rexy.
We must try to win at least one of the first two singles. This will eventually give the our doubles the confidence.
However, Malaysia have only won the team gold three times (1989, 1991 and 2001) since Indonesia started competing in the Sea Games in 1977 and it will be a tough hurdle again Manila. (New Straits Times)
Source: http://www.badmintonplanet.com/cgi-bin/news/1105/0121105.html
