KUALA LUMPUR: In order to protect the Olympics-bound shuttlers, the coaches at the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) have taken it upon themselves to be the first line of defence.
All they ask for in return is full commitment from the players ahead of the Paris Olympics in July.
Speaking to the press today (May 15), the only day currently open to the media, BAM Coaching Director Rexy Mainaky said: "This is our duty and responsibility.
"I told all the players during our meeting on Monday, let the coaches deal with all the headaches.
"I've also instructed all the RTG (Road to Gold) coaches to put in the extra work. We have to be tired, not the players.
"The players are to focus fully on their Olympic preparations.
"They appreciate this arrangement, because in a way, we're really looking after them.
"These players are like our own children. Sometimes without realising it, we act on impulse, and this affects their development."
Separately, the Indonesian former Olympic and world champion also noted that it was important to be mindful of what is made public and what is not.
With about 70 more days to go before the world's biggest sporting event, Rexy pointed out that some information is best kept under wraps.
"We have to be careful because this is the Olympics. Yes, our opponents know us well, but if we keep talking about what we're doing and what we plan to do, that's just giving away too much.
"We're too good sometimes, in interviews, we coaches and players don't realise that we reveal too much.
"You don't see China talking about what Chen Yu Fei (women's singles) does, do they?" questioned Rexy.
The BAM players who have booked their tickets to the Olympics are former men's doubles world champions Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, former French Open women's doubles champions Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah, and world No. 9 mixed doubles duo Chen Tan Jie-Toh Ee Wei.
The other two are independent men's and women's singles shutters, world No. 10 Lee Zii Jia, and two-time former world junior champion Goh Jin Wei.
In the build-up to the Olympics, these players will compete in next week's Super 500 Malaysia Masters, Super 750 Singapore Open (May 28-June 2), and the Super 1000 Indonesia Open (June 4-9).
