Following the conclusion of the Asian Games 2026, the strategic overhaul of Malaysia’s men’s doubles badminton pairs by coaching directors Rexy Mainaky and Herry IP has drawn sharp criticism after the contingent failed to secure a medal in the category. Malaysian badminton legend Rashid Sidek publicly questioned the wisdom of the coaching partnership’s experimental pairings, pointing to unfavorable tournament draws and early exits as evidence that the tactical gamble backfired on the national team.
Experimental Lineups and Early Exits in the Men’s Doubles Draw
For the continental multi-sport event, the Badminton Association of Malaysia deployed two combinations to contest the men’s doubles bracket: the newly formed national pair of Aaron Chia and Kai Wun Tee, alongside the established independent duo of Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin. The Chia and Tee partnership was constructed directly through the collaborative experimentation of Rexy Mainaky and Herry IP.
The newly minted pair experienced a brief run before running into elite competition. In their opening fixture, Chia and Tee secured a straightforward victory against Tajikistan’s Olidzhon Abdurakhimov and Dzhumaboi Saidov. However, their campaign came to a halt in the second round when they faced the world’s top-ranked men’s doubles pair, Kim Won-ho and Seo Seung-jae, resulting in a decisive defeat that eliminated them from medal contention.
Criticism from Malaysian Badminton Leadership
The performance prompted immediate evaluation from former national standouts. Rashid Sidek argued that breaking up established player chemistry to forge new experimental combinations compromised the squad’s seeding and overall tournament outlook. According to the assessment from the former international, altering the core structure of the men's doubles pairs directly disadvantaged the athletes during the competition's early rounds.
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