KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 11 — New national men's doubles head coach Herry Iman Pierngadi has a plan to tweak Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik's playing style to take their game up a notch ahead of the 2025 All England Badminton Championships in Birmingham from March 11 to March 16.
However, the Indonesian admitted that it would not be a quick fix.
"They will definitely need time. We have to take it slowly and hope to see a change in their playing style at the All-England,” he told the press after a training session today.
The coach, better known as Herry IP, is trying to get Chia and Soh to be more aggressive and adapt to a new trend in doubles action by focusing on the drive (a quick, flat and powerful counter-attacking shot that can be either a backhanded or forehanded shot).
He also described the national men's doubles pairs had shown good progress since he officially took charge at the Akademi Badminton Malaysia (ABM) in Bukit Kiara on February 1.
"Looking at the way they used to play, they are used to lifting the shuttle high but that is not a method I subscribe to. So, I have to force them (not to do so) and in the past week, they have shown good progress,” said Herry.
He was also quick to admit that the is still a wide gap between 2024 World Junior Badminton Championships boys’ doubles champions Kang Khai Xing-Aaron Tai and the senior pairs at the ABM.
However, Herry is optimistic that the youngsters can close the gap by constantly training with the seniors and he also hopes that Khai Xing-Aaron can qualify for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
"They are smart and have potential. So, we must protect them… do not let them get injured,” he said.
Herry, who has been given a four-year contract by the Badminton Association of Malaysia, is a high-profile coach renowned for his 'Midas' touch in forging world-class Indonesian pairs.
He has been credited with producing top pairs who have gone on to become Olympic champions, like Candra Wijaya-Tony Gunawan (Sydney 2000) and Hendra Setiawan-Markis Kido (Beijing 2008).
This is the first time that the 62-year-old has taken his expertise abroad, having spent 31 years with the Indonesian badminton squad.
— Bernama
[caption id="attachment_375823" align="aligncenter" width="1180"]
(from left to right) National badminton and men's doubles athletes Kang Khai Xing and Aaron Tai in action during their match against China's Hu Ke Yuan and Lin Xiang Yi, as part of the World Junior Championships at the Nanchang International Sports Centre in in Nanchang, China, on October 13, 2024. — Picture via FACEBOOK/BADMINTON ASSOCIATION OF MALAYSIA - BAM[/caption]
