KUALA LUMPUR, May 24 — National doubles coaching director Rexy Mainaky has raised concerns over the lack of depth in Malaysia's mixed doubles department, warning that it could create an unhealthy environment for top pair Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei.
“Right now, we do not see any backup players because their level is still at the IC (International Challenge) stage. Even when competing at the IC level, they are only able to reach the quarter-finals and semi-finals.
“So if their performances remain like this, it will certainly be difficult to push Tang Jie-Ee Wei, and this will also become a problem,” he told the media yesterday.
Rexy added that he and mixed doubles coach Nova Widianto would sit down to discuss the matter in an effort to further improve the quality of the country’s mixed doubles department.
On another matter, he confirmed that the top national women’s doubles pair Pearly Tan-Thinaah Muralitharan will compete in next week’s Singapore Open.
The world number two pair had withdrawn from this week’s Malaysia Masters after Tan was confirmed not to have fully recovered from a back injury.
At the Singapore Open, Tan-Thinaah will meet Taiwan’s Hu Ling Fang-Jheng Yu Chieh in the first round.
