The Malaysian doubles shuttlers gearing up for the Paris Olympics had the opportunity to experience the tournament atmosphere during open match play sessions at their training base in Aire Sur La Lys, northern France. Spectators were invited to watch and cheer on Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah, and Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei during the sessions. The top French mixed pair Thom Gicquel-Delphine Delrue, who will also be competing in the Olympics, participated in the sessions as well. National coaching director Rexy Mainaky believed that the presence of fans would give the players a taste of what to expect during the badminton competition at the Olympics.
This experience was particularly valuable for the Malaysian pairs, as they have never competed in the Olympics in front of a large crowd. Pearly-Thinaah and Tang Jie-Ee Wei will be making their Olympic debuts, while Aaron-Wooi Yik won bronze in the 2021 Tokyo edition, which took place without spectators due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Rexy Mainaky emphasized the importance of these match play sessions in front of an audience, as they not only help the players with tactics and skills but also mentally prepare them for the competition.
Rexy expressed satisfaction with the overall preparations of the players for the upcoming event. He noted that Aaron-Wooi Yik are about 90 to 95 percent ready and will be fully prepared in the days leading up to the competition. While Tang Jie-Ee Wei have shown inconsistency in previous tournaments, Rexy is confident that they will perform well this time. As for Pearly-Thinaah, the coaching staff is looking to push them further in their preparations.
In addition to the three doubles pairs, independent players Lee Zii Jia (men’s singles) and Goh Jin Wei (women’s singles) will also be representing Malaysia in Paris. Both athletes are currently undergoing training in Malaysia with their respective coaches, Wong Tat Meng and Nova Armada. This comprehensive preparation and participation of Malaysian players across different categories reflect the nation’s commitment to performing well at the upcoming Olympics.