KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 27 – The recent announcement of Rexy Mainaky renewing his links with the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) after a nine-year absence has created a buzz of excitement in the badminton world.
The 53-year-old Indonesian ace, who is a permanent resident in Malaysia is a household name in the game, will be take his post as the deputy director of coaching effective December 1. Former Malaysian Thomas Cupper Wong Choong Hann is the incumbent BAM coaching director.
Choong Hann has been the ‘The Voice of BAM’ in recent times. However, the BAM supremo Tan Sri Norza Zakaria has embarked on a Olympic gold mission after Malaysia could only win a rather lucky bronze medal through Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik in the men’s doubles.
The BAM coaching setup is expected to undergo revamping after Malaysia’s returned without a gold medal in the recent Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Rexy’s arrival has left many question marks. Will he be handed wide ranging powers, especially in the doubles?
For the record, Rexy’s arrival will expand BAM’s Indonesian family in the coaching setup. BAM already has a strong pool of Indonesian coaches in the setup – Hendrawan (men’s singles), Flandy Limpele (men’s doubles), Indra Wijaya (women’s singles) and Paulus Firman (mixed doubles). Malaysian Chan Chong Ming handles the women’s doubles.
Rexy needs no introduction in the shuttle sport. He comes with strong credentials, having achieved highs as a player and also a coach.
The most recent, as head of coaching with the Badminton Association of Thailand (BAT).
Just three years ago, the lovable Rexy guided Thailand to the runners-up spot in the Uber Cup (women’s team championships) in Bangkok.
Kantaphon Wangcharoen achieved a first for his country by winning the bronze medal (men’s singles) and Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Sapsiree Taerattanachai (mixed doubles) in the 2019 World Championships in Basel, Switzerland.
Rexy is not new to Malaysian badminton. He was the men’s doubles coach from 2005-2012 who groomed Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong into world beaters.The pair also won Asiad gold in Doha in 2006, defeating Indonesia’s Luluk Hadiyanto-Alvent Yulianto 21-13, 21-14 in the final.
Kien Keat-Boon Heong also won the All-England in 2007 – defeating China’s Cai Yun-Fu Haifeng 21-15, 21-18 for the title.
Tan Sri Norza is rather diplomatic when he said: “Look forward to Rexy working with Choong Hann and the rest of the coaching staff for the future of Malaysian badminton.”
Read between the lines and this statement carried lot of weight – more so when not all are happy with Choong Hann’s ‘politics’ as the director of coaching.
All in all expect changes to take place just when you don’t expect. Just like when BAM went on a ‘chopping exercise’ and removed a number of coaches and also players out of the blue.
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