FOR 40 years, Malaysia has courted the world's best badminton brains. And two days from now, Indonesian legend Rexy Mainaky will become the latest one to start work here.
The former Olympic and world champion will join four other Indonesians — Hendrawan, Indra Wijaya, Flandi Limpele and Paulus Firman — who are all under the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM).
With so many top-notch Indonesian coaches at BAM, quantity and quality, Malaysia has both, much to the envy of other nations. Why so many foreign coaches? Do we need that many? Some fans wonder.
Well, BAM wants to cover all departments. Rexy is the deputy coaching director, Hendrawan is in charge of men's singles, Indra for women's singles, Flandi for men's doubles and Paulus for mixed doubles.
BAM can say that Lee Zii Jia was coached by Hendrawan to this year's all-England crown, while men's doubles Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik were guided by Flandi to the Olympic bronze in Tokyo.
On Rexy's appointment, Datuk Lee Chong Wei said: "I think he is the best coach in the world." That smashing thumbs up coming from former world No. 1 Chong Wei means Malaysia has gained another great badminton mind.
Rexy, 53, will be tasked with turning Aaron-Wooi Yik into gold medallists at the 2024 Paris Olympics. And BAM has faith in his ability. Rexy had proven himself during a previous coaching stint here, transforming men's doubles Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong into world No. 1.
The duo also won the 2006 Asian Games gold and 2007 All-England title. Rexy continues the trend of great foreign names enriching our courts with their knowledge. Indeed, when it comes to gathering badminton expertise, Malaysia is second to none in the world.
In the past, BAM had recruited top names like China's Fang Kaixiang, Han Jian, Yang Yang and Li Mao, Denmark's Morten Frost, South Korea's Park Joo Bong and Indonesia's Indra Gunawan.
Han Jian and Yang Yang engineered Malaysia's 1992 Thomas Cup triumph, Li Mao shaped a young Chong Wei during his five-year stint in Malaysia from 2005. They have come and gone, leaving behind their expertise and knowledge. So, have we learned or gained anything?
In terms of titles and trophies, the returns should have been better. In Asia, Malaysia is not in the top four, as China, Japan, Indonesia and South Korea are ahead. And now even for fifth best, Taiwan threatens to pull ahead.
At one time, there was talk of BAM trying to get China's super coach Li Yongbo, who once famously said: "I will create 100 (world-level) champions before I retire." Though the brash Yongbo didn't produce 100 champions, it was said he created an impressive 81 champions, including 18 Olympic gold medallists. And the retired Yongbo is within BAM's reach.
In recent years, he has been in Malaysia's backyard, growing durian in Kelantan; a badminton king who became Musang King. But maybe it's not about the coach, it's about the player. It's about having the hunger and determination to succeed.
Ironically, former national players Tan Kim Her, Jeremy Gan, Lee Wan Wah and Wong Tat Meng have learnt from coaches brought here by BAM. Kim Her, Jeremy and Wan Wah are now coaching Japan's national team, while Tat Meng is with South Korea's team. Results-wise, Japan and South Korea are now doing better than Malaysia.
