Kuala Lumpur: Despite head coach Herry Iman Pierngadi not traveling with the Malaysian national squad to Qingdao, China, for the upcoming 2025 Badminton Asia Mixed Team Championships (BAMTC) next week, Malaysia’s men’s doubles pair Wan Arif Wan Junaidi and Yap Roy King remain eager to tap into his expertise.
Since Herry officially took charge of the men’s doubles department at the Academy Badminton Malaysia (ABM) last week, the players have already benefited from his tactical guidance.
“Everything is going smoothly, and our men’s doubles camp is progressing well. With our new coach, we’ve gained valuable experience and especially his insights from his coaching experience in Indonesia,” Wan Arif shared during a training session at ABM.
Malaysia will compete in Group B, alongside Indonesia and Hong Kong, with the top two teams advancing to the quarterfinals.
Even though Pierngadi won’t be present in China, Wan Arif emphasized that the team will remain in constant communication with him.
“He won’t be with us at BAMTC, but we’ll be in touch with him. We’ll analyze our opponents and strategize on the best lineup for each match,” he added.
Also in Malaysia’s men’s doubles squad for BAMTC are Man Wei Chong and Tee Kai Wun, who will be key contenders in Malaysia’s quest for success at the championship.
Meanwhile, BAM’s Director of Coaching, Rexy Mainaky, has questioned the Badminton World Federation (BWF) for its frequent modifications to the scoring system, suggesting that the organization should focus on more impactful improvements for the sport.
“What exactly do they want? Right now, they’re only thinking about changing the scoring system instead of working on ways to take the sport forward. I don’t even bother to read about it anymore,” said Rexy Mainaky after a training session at the Academy Badminton Malaysia (ABM).
The former Olympic gold medalist pointed out that badminton already enjoys strong TV viewership, and the 21-point rally scoring system has been well-accepted by both players and fans.
“BWF keeps tweaking the scoring system, but what’s actually improving? Look at tennis—it can last six to ten hours, and people still watch. So why focus only on the scoring system? The 21-point format works well, so why change it?” Rexy Mainaky questioned.
BWF to Trial 3×15-Point Scoring System in 2025
On February 3, BWF announced that the new 3×15 rally scoring system (with a 21-point cap) will undergo testing in selected tournaments between April and September/October 2025.
