Kuala Lumpur: Newly appointed Malaysia men’s doubles head coach, Herry Iman Pierngadi, is wasting no time in setting ambitious goals. The experienced Indonesian coach has his sights set on ending Malaysia’s 18-year title drought in the All England Open, with the prestigious tournament set to take place in March.
The last time Malaysia claimed the men’s doubles title at the All England was in 2007, when Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong lifted the trophy. Now, Herry believes that Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik and Man Wei Chong/Tee Kai Wun have the potential to bring the title back to Malaysia.
“All England is one of the most prestigious tournaments, second only to the Olympics and World Championships,” said Herry after overseeing Malaysia’s training session at Academy Badminton Malaysia (ABM).
“I believe in Aaron-Wooi Yik and Wei Chong-Kai Wun. Their talent, combined with Wei Chong and Kai Wun’s recent Indonesia Masters title, makes me confident that they have a strong chance of winning.”
A Crucial Step Toward Olympic Gold
Herry emphasized that Malaysia’s doubles squad must be fully prepared, as the competition in Birmingham will be fierce.
“Every pair is coming in with the same mission—to win the All England. That’s why thorough preparation is crucial,” he said.
Success at the All England would be a significant milestone in Malaysia’s long-term goal of winning gold at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Herry himself has an outstanding record at the All England, having coached Indonesian pairs to six titles in the last eight editions, including:
Markus Fernaldi Gideon & Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo (2017, 2018)
Fajar Alfian & Muhammad Rian Ardianto (2023, 2024)
Herry IP Rejected China to Choose Malaysia
Before accepting the role in Malaysia, Herry revealed that he had offers from China, India, and Thailand to become their head coach.
“I received an offer from China, while Thailand approached me twice. India also showed interest,” Herry shared.
However, the 63-year-old coach, known as “The Fire Dragon”, ultimately chose Malaysia—despite the historic badminton rivalry between Malaysia and Indonesia.
“Malaysia and Indonesia actually have many similarities—culture, language, food, and even training styles. Malaysia also has several strong doubles pairs, some ranked in the world’s top 20, and that’s what drew me here.”
This marks Herry’s first coaching role outside Indonesia after 31 years of developing Indonesia’s elite doubles players. His contract with the Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI) was not renewed in December, opening the door for his new chapter with Malaysia.
Looking Ahead
Herry will officially begin his duties as Malaysia’s men’s doubles head coach tomorrow, ushering in an exciting new era for Malaysian badminton.
Stay tuned for more badminton news and updates on Malaysia’s journey to reclaim All England glory! 🏸🔥
