National men’s doubles coach Herry IP is working on both psychological and technical strategies to help Man Wei Chong and Tee Kai Wun overcome their recent setbacks against Indonesia’s Sabar Karyaman and Moh Reza Isfahani.
Despite being ranked world No. 6, Wei Chong and Kai Wun have struggled against the world No. 7 Indonesian pair, suffering a 6-1 record in recent encounters. Their latest defeat came in the quarter-finals of last week’s Indonesia Masters in Jakarta, ending their title defence.
“Sabar and Reza have a slight psychological edge for now. They appear more confident when facing Wei Chong and Kai Wun,” Herry said. “Whenever the Malaysians take them on, they seem nervous and uneasy. Both pairs have similar abilities, so the challenge is mainly mental.”
Source: TVS
To address the problem, Herry is combining video analysis of past matches with support from a National Sports Institute psychologist to improve the pair’s confidence. “The first step is reviewing match footage to identify technical gaps. I also hold regular discussions with the players to motivate them. Assistance from an NSI sports psychologist can further strengthen their mindset,” he explained.
Wei Chong and Kai Wun previously worked with former Badminton Association of Malaysia mental trainer Frederick Tan and NSI psychologist Lim Jin Xuan last year, showing a continued focus on mental preparation.
Herry, nicknamed “the Magician,” is renowned for his ability to prepare players mentally, having guided multiple athletes to Olympic and world championship success during his three-decade coaching career in Indonesia.
He remains confident that Wei Chong and Kai Wun will perform better in future encounters with Sabar and Reza, hoping that a combination of technical refinement and mental conditioning will turn the tide in their favour.
