BAMTC 2025: Malaysia's Elimination A Learning Experience – Rexy

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 14 (Bernama) -- Academy Badminton Malaysia (ABM) coaching director Rexy Mainaky claims that the national squad’s early exit from the 2025 Badminton Asia Mixed Team Championships (BAMTC) in Qingdao, China, is not a failure but rather a valuable lesson for backup players in their journey toward maturity on the international stage.

Despite being disappointed with the team’s defeats in both group matches, Rexy believes there are still many positives to take away, particularly in terms of responsibility and competitiveness in team tournaments.

“Although this squad consists of a mix of senior and junior players, that does not mean we had no ambition to go further or even win the title. However, some players did not give their best effort.

“In terms of results, of course, we are disappointed. But if these players are not given the chance to compete in major tournaments like this, when else will they gain experience? Moreover, Hong Kong fielded their strongest lineup,” he told reporters at ABM in Bukit Kiara today.

The Malaysian squad had to pack their bags early after losing their two Group B matches, by a similar 2-3 margin to Indonesia and Hong Kong.

This is the first time Malaysia have failed to qualify for the quarter-finals of the tournament since its inception in 2017.

However, Rexy believed that Malaysia could have reached the quarter-finals if the mixed doubles pair had won in both ties.

He said Malaysia had excluded top doubles pair Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik from the tournament to groom younger players for major assignments in the future.

“If our main goal was simply to win BAMTC, we would have sent our strongest lineup.

“We want more players to gain experience in team events. In situations like this, the responsibility does not lie solely with the top players but also with the more experienced ones, such as Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai,” he added.

-- BERNAMA