Malaysia Poised for Breakthrough in BWF World Tour Finals
PETALING JAYA: National badminton coach Rexy Mainaky is confident Malaysia can finally make a breakthrough in the BWF World Tour Finals next month.
Confidence Boosted by Multiple Representatives
The director of coaching at the Badminton Academy of Malaysia said with the number of representatives who have qualified for this year’s tournament, the chances of making history are growing. "When we talk about Malaysia, with so many representatives at the 2024 BWF World Tour Finals, it opens up more opportunities for us to win at least one title. We shouldn’t be too greedy, but I’m happy with the current situation," he was quoted as saying.
Historic Opportunity for Malaysian Players
To date, no Malaysian player has ever won a title at the BWF World Tour Finals, let alone reached the final, since it was introduced in 2018, with the best achievement being a semi-final appearance. However, Rexy is proud of the Malaysian shuttlers, both players from the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) and professional players, who have successfully secured spots for the tournament, which is scheduled to take place in Hangzhou, China, from Dec 11 to 15.
Malaysian Representatives
The Malaysian players who will represent the country at the tournament include men’s doubles pairs Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik and Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani; women’s doubles pair Pearly Tan-M Thinaah; mixed doubles pairs Cheng Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei and Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai; as well as men’s singles player Lee Zii Jia.
Opportunity for Aaron and Wooi Yik
Rexy was hopeful that Aaron and Wooi Yik will make the most of their opportunity. He also believes that the 2020 Tokyo Olympics bronze medallists need to further improve their performance ahead of the event in Hangzhou. Aaron and Wooi Yik’s bid to qualify for the tournament took a blow when they were eliminated in the quarter-finals of the China Masters after losing to the home team’s He Ji Ting-Ren Xiang Yu on Friday. However, the next day, BWF confirmed that Aaron and Wooi Yik, alongside Indonesia’s Sabar Karyaman Gutama-Moh Reza Pahlevi Isfahani, secured the final two spots among the top eight pairs.
Conclusion
Rexy Mainaky’s confidence in Malaysia’s chances of making a breakthrough in the BWF World Tour Finals is well-founded, given the number of representatives who have qualified for the tournament. With a strong line-up of players, including Aaron and Wooi Yik, Pearly Tan-M Thinaah, and Lee Zii Jia, Malaysia is poised to make history.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the BWF World Tour Finals?
A: The BWF World Tour Finals is an annual badminton tournament that features the top eight pairs in the world.
Q: How many Malaysian players have qualified for the tournament?
A: A total of seven Malaysian players have qualified for the tournament, including men’s doubles pairs, women’s doubles pair, mixed doubles pairs, and men’s singles player.
Q: What is Rexy Mainaky’s expectation from Aaron and Wooi Yik?
A: Rexy Mainaky is hopeful that Aaron and Wooi Yik will make the most of their opportunity and improve their performance ahead of the event in Hangzhou.