Malaysia’s disappointing badminton campaign at the Asian Games has prompted former national coach Datuk James Selvaraj to call for a complete review of the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM), with both players and coaches facing questions over the team’s lack of results.
Malaysia returned from the tournament with just one badminton medal, a bronze won by women’s doubles pair Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah. The result fell short of BAM’s target of one silver and one bronze, leaving the national programme facing renewed scrutiny.
The poor showing was not limited to one event. Men’s singles players Leong Jun Hao and Justin Hoh were eliminated in the last 16, while mixed doubles pairs Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai and Chen Tang Jie-Cheng Su Yin exited in the second round.
The men’s doubles department also suffered a major setback, with Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani and the scratch combination of Aaron Chia-Tee Kai Wun both losing in the second round.
For Selvaraj, the results warrant a thorough assessment of the entire national setup rather than criticism being directed at individual players alone.
“What is happening? Why are they not performing?” he questioned, calling for a “total review” involving every player and coach within BAM.
Selvaraj also stressed that the level of support given to the national programme must be matched by performances on court.
“Whatever they requested, they have been given. When they have been given whatever they requested, they must deliver,” he said.
His concerns extend beyond results, with the former coach calling for BAM to examine its coaching methods, player commitment and the overall preparation of the squad. The aim, he believes, should be to identify where things went wrong and make the necessary changes rather than simply move on from the disappointing campaign.
Much of the attention has also fallen on doubles coaching director Rexy Mainaky, particularly after the decision to pair Aaron Chia with Tee Kai Wun for the Asian Games.
The unusual combination drew criticism from fans, with some calling for Rexy to step down. Selvaraj stopped short of personally demanding the Indonesian coach's resignation, but said BAM must assess Rexy’s performance and decide whether he should remain in his position.
Rexy, meanwhile, has acknowledged the frustration from supporters but defended the decision to experiment with new combinations.
He explained that the declining form of established pairings, including Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik and Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun, had prompted the coaching team to explore alternatives ahead of the Asian Games.
The debate now moves beyond one tournament or one coaching decision. BAM faces pressure to determine why Malaysia’s established players and combinations failed to produce stronger results and whether its current approach is capable of delivering more consistently at major events.
With a full review expected to follow the Asian Games, Malaysian badminton has reached a point where difficult decisions may be necessary. The challenge for BAM will be to turn the disappointment in Aichi-Nagoya into meaningful changes that can strengthen the national programme moving forward.
