Young pairs have to improve standings to avoid early all-M'sian clashes
PETALING JAYA: If Malaysia's young men's doubles pairs want to avoid knocking each other out early in tournaments, there is only one way forward – climb up the rankings.
That's the clear advice from national coaching director Rexy Mainaky to Yap Roy King-Wan Arif Wan Junaidi and Mohd Haikal Nazri-Choong Hon Jian, who have repeatedly found themselves drawn against fellow Malaysians in the opening rounds.
Most recently, world No. 23 Roy King-Arif were drawn against world No. 7 Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun in the opening round of the Japan Open starting on Tuesday in Tokyo.
It's not an isolated case as this marks the fifth time this year that Roy King-Arif have been pitted against teammates in early rounds after the Opens in India, Thailand, Singapore and Indonesia.
World No. 47 Haikal-Hon Jian, who only returned to competitions this year in May after the former's hip injury, also had to take on Wei Chong-Kai Wun in the Thailand Open first round.
Men's doubles head coach Herry Iman Pierngadi had expressed his frustrations after seeing Roy King-Arif and Wei Chong-Kai Wun clash early again in the Japan tourney after meeting in the second round in their last tournament before this in Indonesia.
Rexy said the only way out was for the younger pair to improve their rankings.
'It's definitely a loss for us if two of our pairs are drawn against each other in the first or second round in tournaments as only one pair can progress further,' said Rexy.
'Now, we can see more all-Malaysian clashes early in the men's doubles as more pairs can qualify for top tournaments.
'I have discussed this with Herry as well. Roy King-Arif and Haikal-Hon Jian have no choice but to improve their rankings to avoid facing teammates.'
Rexy pointed out that there was a similar scenario in the mixed doubles last year when upcoming pair Hoo Pang Ron-Cheng Su Yin were drawn against national No. 1 Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei in the early rounds in tournaments.
Pang Ron-Su Yin though managed to move up to No. 13 in the world and were no longer pitted against Tang Jie-Ee Wei.
'We have experienced this in the mixed doubles too. Pang Ron-Su Yin initially had to play against Tang Jie-Ee Wei in a few tournaments,' said Rexy.
'Once they moved up the rankings, they were not drawn anymore against the latter.
'So, I want Roy King-Arif and Haikal-Hon Jian to try to break into the top 15 too.
'They need to take their opportunities and do better especially in World Tour Super 300 and 500 competitions and collect more ranking points.'
But the good news is that when there is an all-Malaysian clash, one is assured to advance. And in the case of Roy King-Arif and Wei Chong-Kai Wun, the winners will play against Thailand's Kittinupong Kedren-Dechapol Puavaranukroh or China's Huang Di-Liu Yang in the second round.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
2 hours ago
- The Star
Hamidin believes Harimau Malaya can break into world's top 100
Honoured: Tan Sri Hamidin Mohd Amin posing with his Sports Leadership Figure award at the 2024 Malaysian Sportswriters Association (SAM)-100PLUS Awards on Monday. — FAIHAN GHANI/The Star PETALING JAYA: The dream of seeing Harimau Malaya break into the world's top 100 is no longer a pipe dream and could be within reach in just two to three years. Former Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) president Tan Sri Hamidin Mohd Amin is optimistic that the national team can reach that milestone, given their recent progress under the Harimau Malaya revolution driven by the Regent of Johor, Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim. Malaysia are now ranked No. 125 in the latest FIFA rankings, a six-spot jump from their previous position at No. 131, their highest in 19 years since they last reached the same ranking in February 2006. The improvement came after a convincing win over Vietnam in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifying campaign last month under new head coach Peter Cklamovski. Hamidin believes the current set-up has the potential to take Malaysian football to greater heights, especially with strong backing from Tunku Ismail. 'After such a long time, to see Malaysia ranked No. 125 is a great achievement. It shows what can happen when everyone works together to push the national team forward,' said Hamidin. 'When I first took office, we were ranked 178 in the world. Slowly but surely, we climbed up the ladder and even reached No. 130 before the Asian Cup in Qatar. 'We must continue this momentum. Consistent progress requires consistent effort. If all parties work together and give their full support, I truly believe it's not impossible for us to break into the world's top 100 within the next two or three years. 'But the effort must be consistent, as other nations are also working hard to strengthen their teams. Long-term planning is crucial to ensure Harimau Malaya remain competitive on the international stage,' said Hamidin. Still, he warned that other nations are also making strong strides to improve their rankings. In South-East Asia, Thailand continue to lead the way at No. 102, followed by Vietnam at No. 113, Indonesia at No. 118, and Malaysia just behind. 'We all dream of achieving greater success than where we are now. ''That's why continuous effort is essential. With the initiatives introduced by Tunku Ismail, I'm confident we're on the right track to keep moving forward. 'But we can't afford to be complacent. We must keep evolving and find better ways to improve the team's performance. Otherwise, we risk slipping backwards,' he said. Hamidin was speaking after receiving the Sports Leadership Figure award at the 2024 Malaysian Sportswriters Association (SAM)-100PLUS Awards in Kuala Lumpur on Monday.
The Star
3 hours ago
- The Star
Selangor find their new playmaker in Clough after Orozco's exit
PETALING JAYA: Selangor are set to have a new chief playmaker at their disposal and he comes from England. Zach Clough (pic) is the man for the job and the news was broken by their former player and Australian football pundit Robbie Cornthwaite. 'Adelaide United midfielder Zach Clough has signed for Malaysian Super League giants Selangor,' he tweeted yesterday. The move will whet the appetite of Selangor fans, especially after the departure of Venezuelan playmaker Yohandry Orozco during the off-season. Clough brings with him a wealth of experience, creativity, and technical flair that Selangor hope will elevate their midfield to new heights. The 30-year-old playmaker is well known for his intelligence on the ball, sharp passing range, and an eye for goal, all attributes that have made him a standout in the English Football League and Australia's top tier. Having started his career at Bolton Wanderers, Clough quickly made a name for himself as one of the most exciting young talents in English football. He scored 21 goals in 68 appearances for Bolton and also had stints with Nottingham Forest and Wigan Athletic. Injuries may have disrupted parts of his career but at his best, Clough remains a dynamic attacking midfielder with an instinctive ability to unlock defences. At Adelaide United, Clough found his rhythm again, becoming a central figure in their attacking set-up. His vision and control in tight spaces proved vital for the Reds and his ability to drop deep and dictate play often allowed others around him to flourish. Last season in the A-League, he played 27 matches, scoring seven and making nine assists. Selangor's move for Clough signals their intent to challenge for silverware and build on the steady progress they made under coach Katsuhito Kinoshi. Clough is expected to slot into an advanced midfield role, potentially just behind the striker, where his ability to thread through passes and take on defenders could provide Selangor with the attacking edge they need. He could also be deployed as a winger. Fans of the Red Giants will be eager to see how quickly Clough adapts to the tempo and physicality of Malaysian football. However, given his technical style and prior experience adjusting to different leagues, there is confidence that he will make an immediate impact.
The Star
3 hours ago
- The Star
Nafuzi's men rue poor finishing after shock loss to Philippines
Non-stop attack: Malaysia's Mohd Harry Danish Mohd Haizon (top) battles for the ball with the Philippines goalkeeper Nicholas Guimaraes during their AFF U-23 Championship match at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta. — AP PETALING JAYA: Malaysia were made to rue a string of missed chances as a clinical Philippines side punished them and trooped off with a 2-0 win in their opening Asean Football Federation (AFF) Under-23 Championship Group A game at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta yesterday. The Harimau Muda could have taken the lead as early as the sixth minute when winger Aliff Izwan Yuslan unleashed a stinging left-footed shot from the right, only to be denied by a sharp save from Filipino goalkeeper Nicholas Guimaraes. But it was the Young Azkals who struck first against the run of play. A swift counter-attack led by Javier Mariona set up striker Otu Abang Banatao, who calmly finished with a poacher's touch in the 13th minute. Malaysia nearly responded in the 19th minute when forward Haqimi Azim Rosli cut in from the left and rifled a shot that beat the keeper but crashed against the post. Despite enjoying 72% of the possession and creating 11 chances in the first half, the Young Tigers lacked the cutting edge to break through. Missed opportunities and a lack of composure in the final third proved costly. Things got worse in the 42nd minute when Banatao doubled the lead, this time latching onto a clever pass from Uriel Dalapo before slotting past helpless Malaysian keeper Zulhilmi Sharani. The 18-year-old striker's brace highlighted the Azkals' ruthless efficiency in front of goal. After the break, Malaysia turned up the intensity, pushing wingbacks higher up the pitch in search of a way back. However, the Filipino defence, marshalled superbly by centreback Gavin Muens, stood tall and unyielding. Coach Nafuzi Zain's men continued to dominate possession but were let down by a lack of creativity and decisiveness in the final third. Frustration grew as the minutes ticked away, with the Filipino backline repelling wave after wave of Malaysian attacks. The result leaves Malaysia with no margin for error. To stand any chance of a strong showing in the competition, they must now beat Brunei on Friday and hosts Indonesia on July 21 – both at the same venue. Nafuzi said ball-watching was the reason why they conceded the two goals but also asserted that his side did try to wrestle the game away from the Philippines. 'In terms of performance, we did well from the first minute to the end. We had our chances. In the first half, we made mistakes in defence,'' said Nafuzi. ''We allowed two easy goals. We didn't give up, we tried, had chances but just could not get it in the back of the net. 'From the beginning, we could see some players didn't settle down. We were ball watching and expecting others to help. I guess that led to the goals.'
