KUALA LUMPUR: It sure looks like the BA of Malaysia (BAM) could use a revamp in the men's singles department.
On Tuesday, two national backup shuttlers, Jacky Kok and Ong Zhen Yi, failed to even clear the qualifying round of the Super 500 Thailand Open in Bangkok.
In the first qualifying match, Jacky made quick work of Norway's Marcus Barth 21-8, 21-10 but was quickly brought down to earth by India's Meiraba Luwang Maisnam, who won 21-19, 21-9.
The victory was expected as the Indian world No. 84 has never lost to Jacky in nine meetings.
Meiraba will take on his compatriot and Asian Games bronze medallist H. S. Prannoy in the first round on Wednesday.
Zhen Yi also won his first match, 17-21, 23-21, 21-15, against India's S. Sankar Muthusamy Subramanian.
However, Zhen Yi stood no chance against Hong Kong's Chan Yin Chak in the second match, losing 21-14, 21-7.
Their defeats do not reflect well on the national body, who look set to wield the axe after the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Earlier, Timesport reported that BAM might not renew the contracts of three national men's singles coaches, namely Indonesian Hendrawan, Tey Seu Bock and James Chua, at the end of the year.
The national body has also advertised on social media that they are looking to hire a new men's singles coach.
Separately, two Malaysian women's singles players also failed to clear the qualifying rounds in Bangkok.
Former Sea Games champion S. Kisona withdrew from the competition, while Uber Cup member Wong Ling Ching was sent packing by Taiwan's Lin Sih Yun, who notched a 21-17, 9-21, 21-14 win.