With the Thailand SEA Games just months away (Dec 9–20), the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) is still fine-tuning its squad to ensure they can stand toe-to-toe with powerhouse rivals Indonesia and Thailand.
National coaching director Rexy Mainaky revealed that while a proposed list is on the table, final decisions will take another few days to a week. The selection process involves close discussions with singles coaching director Kenneth Jonassen and men’s doubles head coach Herry IP.
Rexy knows the challenge ahead — Thailand is expected to send their strongest team, with world champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn likely to feature, while Indonesia remains a perennial threat.
“If they send their top players, we have to match them if we want to be competitive,” Rexy said.
Malaysia’s top men’s doubles pair, Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik, gold medalists at the 2019 Manila Games, have expressed willingness to let other pairs take the SEA Games stage. Rising duos like Wan Arif Wan Junaidi–Yap Roy King, fresh off their Macau Open triumph, and Man Wei Chong–Tee Kai Wun could step in.
Pearly Tan–M. Thinaah and Chen Tang Jie–Toh Ee Wei are also on the shortlist.
Malaysia’s badminton squad left the 2023 Phnom Penh Games without a gold, settling for two silvers and four bronzes — a result they’re determined to improve in Thailand.
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