Malaysian badminton has a problem behind its top mixed doubles pair. National doubles coaching director Rexy Mainaky has raised the alarm about the lack of depth in the department.

His worry is simple. There is no one pushing world No. 4 Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei from below.

And that could become a real issue for the reigning world champions. Without internal competition, it is hard for any top pair to keep sharpening their game.

"It's not about the gap, we don't see the backup. We see Tang Jie-Ee Wei, and after that, below this, it's empty," Rexy said.

The numbers back him up. The next pairs in line are still stuck at the International Challenge level.

"Right now, we do not see any backup players because their level is still at the IC stage," he said. "Even when competing at the IC level, they are only able to reach the quarter-finals and semi-finals."

The pool has gotten even thinner recently. Hoo Pang Ron-Cheng Su Hui were one option, but Pang Ron has now left the national setup.

That leaves Noraqilah Maisarah Ramdan and the young pair of Datu Anif Isaac Datu Asrah-Clarissa Tan. The middle layer is basically missing.

"This is homework in mixed doubles, not just for coach Nova. For myself too," Rexy admitted. He plans to sit down with mixed doubles head coach Nova Widianto to figure out a plan.

The lack of depth is already starting to show. Without anyone breathing down their necks, Tang Jie-Ee Wei have struggled to find that extra edge between tournaments.

Rexy Questions Tang Jie's Display in Mixed Doubles Defeat

Tang Jie-Ee Wei crashed out of the Malaysia Masters quarter-finals on Friday. They lost 21-18, 21-16 to China's new pair Gao Jia Xuan-Wei Ya Xin in just 44 minutes.

The defeat at Unifi Arena in Bukit Jalil was hard to watch. And Rexy did not hold back when reviewing what went wrong.

His finger pointed firmly at one half of the pair. He felt Ee Wei did her job, but Tang Jie did not turn up.

"Ee Wei played at, I would say, 90 per cent of her performance level last night. Only Tang Jie was lacking," Rexy said.

The 28-year-old looked physically fine but mentally absent. "It was as if Tang Jie entered the court fresh, with speed and power, but his brain froze."

Rexy gave one example that stood out. "There were three shots in the first game where the shuttle was already with Ee Wei, but he still wanted to go in."

What worried Rexy most was the lack of fight. Tang Jie is usually a player who shouts, pushes himself, and refuses to go down quietly.

This time, that fire was missing. "But last night, you could see it in his eyes. Empty," Rexy said.

The coaching staff tried everything from the sidelines. "We shouted at him too, but there was no response."

For Rexy, the answer has to come from within the player himself. "He has to realise all this himself. Don't rely on others to tell you."

The early exit adds to a rough patch for the pair. They also went out early at the All England in March.

Meanwhile, there is some good news on another front. Rexy confirmed that women's doubles pair Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah will return for the Singapore Open next week.

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Written by

Sahil Prashar

Edited by

Sahil Prashar