Coach taps past wins for Asian Games prep

National doubles coach Rexy Mainaky is urging Malaysian badminton players to revisit their top performances to boost confidence and motivation ahead of the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya.

Understanding the why behind success

Mainaky is refreshing players' memories by having them examine not just their playing style, but their mindset and behaviour on court during past winning moments.

“We are not just looking at their playing style but why they behaved a certain way on court, their mindset at every point.”

Video analysis of winning moments

Coaches will review past match videos to analyse both technique and players' mindset during crucial moments, examining how they scored points and reacted to their partners.

Focus on reactions and communication

Coaches pay close attention to how players respond after each point and communicate with their partners, looking at expressions and reactions that kept them motivated.

“In the videos, we look at many angles, such as how they score points, their response to their partner, and the expressions that kept them motivated at every point.”

Recognise and replicate winning patterns

The goal is for players to recognise what drove their best performances and apply those qualities at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya.

Malaysia's last badminton gold was 2006

Malaysia last won Asian Games badminton gold through men's doubles pair Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong at the 2006 Doha Games, making the upcoming tournament a chance to reclaim that glory.