For Malaysia to win the team gold medal at the Commonwealth Games, the focal point is on the doubles as they have to deliver.
At the last Games in Melbourne, Malaysia won four out of the seven gold medals – through men’s singles (Lee Chong Wei), men’s doubles (Koo Kien Keat-Chan Chong Ming), women’s doubles (Wong Pei Tty-Chin Eei Hui) and mixed team.
In order to defend the mixed team gold, the women shuttlers will have to live up to expectations And coach Rexy Mainaky is optimistic that his charges have what it takes to deliver the crucial points.
While Koo Kien Keat/Tan Boon Heong are almost certain to deliver the point, as they have no peers in the mens doubles department, the same cannot be said about the womens doubles pairing of Woon Kei Wei/Chin Eei Hui.
Rexy is not overly concerned about the prospects of the womens doubles pair against the English pair as his concern is about playing India.
"We need to win at least one of the doubles against India should we meet them. If we play England there should not be an issue as we have enough depth in all departments and should win with ease,” said Rexy.
"The Indians are formidable and have Saina (Nehwal) in singles that can swing it for them. But my charges are ready and they can be counted upon to deliver.”
Malaysia booked their place in the last eight of the team event by defeating Nigeria 5-0. Rested from this tie were Lee Chong Wei, Wong Mew Choo with the men's doubles pairing also split up.
They will play Australia tomorrow to complete the formality of finishing tops in their group.
RESULTS – DAY TWO – AFTERNOON SESSION
GROUP A
MALAYSIA 5 NIGERIA 0
Lydia Cheah bt Hajara Maria Braimah 21-7,21-9
Mohd Hafiz Hashim bt Joseph Eneojo Abah 21-15,21-9
Chin Eei Hui/Woon Khe Wei bt Susa Funaya Ideh/Hajara Maria Braimah 21-4,21-7
Tan Boon Heong/Chan Peng Soon bt Ebenezar Olaoluwa Fagbemi 21-16,21-5
Koo Kien Keat/Goh Liu Ying bt Edicha Abel Ocholi/Sasan Funaya Ideh 21-8,21-11
NORTHERN IRELAND 4 JAMAICA 1
Tony Stephenson lost to Charles Conran Saunders Pyne 15-21,21-16,14-21
Sinead Chambers bt Alya Dawne Lweis 21-16,21-6
Tony Stephenson/Mathew Gleave bt Garron Trevor Palmer/Gareth Andre Theodore Henry 21-16, 19-21,21-11
Sinead Chambers/Caroline Black bt Christine Denise Leyow Mayne/Kristal Fayonne Karjohn 21-9,21-14
Mathew Gleave/Caroline Black bt Garron Trevor Palmer/Alya Dawne Lewis 21-12,21-17
GROUP C
CANADA 5 MAURITIUS 0
Alex Pang bt Abdool Sahir Edoo 21-8,21-8
Joycelyn Ko bt Eileen Karen Lee Chin Foo Kune 21-12,21-11
Toby Ng/Jon Vandervet bt Abdool Sahir Edoo/Jacques Michel Stephen Beeharry 21-9,21-14
Alex Bruce/Michelle Li bt Eileen Karen Lee Chin Foo Kune/Kate Jessica Kim Lee Foo Kune 21-6,21-10
Toby Ng/Grace Gao bt Jacques Michel Stephen Beeharry/Shama Aboobakar 21-16,21-11
UGANDA 5 FALKLANDS 0
Abraham Keneddy Wogute/Gloria Catherine Najjuka bt Douglas James Clark/Anna Luxton 21-13,21-10
Edwin Ekiring bt Michael Stewart Brownlee 21-6,21-7
Margaret Nankabirwa bt Sofia Arkhipkina 21-6,21-5
Wilson Tukire/Brian Ssuuna bt Michael Stewart Brownlee/Douglas James Clarke 17-21,21-15,21-16
Bridget Shamin Bangi/Margaret Nanakabirwa bt Anna Luxton/Laura Jayne Minto 21-11,21-7
