National Badminton Director Rexy Mainaky Apologizes For Failure In Malaysia Open
In an emotional address, Rexy Mainaky apologises for Malaysia’s badminton performance at Malaysia Open 2024 and urges players to fight with a ‘lionheart’ in upcoming challenges.


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Rexy Mainaky, the national coaching director of the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM), has issued a heartfelt apology to fans and sponsors, including Petronas, following the disappointing performance at the Malaysia Open 2024.
The national team’s early exit, with all players knocked out in the quarterfinals, has sparked a wave of discontent among supporters.

The Malaysian badminton community, known for its passionate following, has been left disheartened as their hopes for a strong showing at the prestigious tournament were dashed.
Comparisons have been drawn with Singapore, whose players managed to secure a spot in the semifinals, further highlighting the underperformance of the Malaysian squad.
Can’t believe Malaysia does not have a single representative in semis but Singapore got one. What have our badminton become.
— Mojojojoseph (@Mojojojoseph2) January 12, 2024

Rexy, a former Olympic gold medallist, has taken responsibility for the setback to address the criticism and reassure stakeholders.
“I understand the disappointment of our fans and sponsors,” he said. “We are committed to doing better in future tournaments.”

With the Indian and Indonesian Opens on the horizon, Rexy is focused on motivating coaches and players to reflect on their shortcomings and improve their game.
His message to the players is one of resilience and determination: “Give your last blood for every tournament you participate in. Challenge yourself and keep telling yourself you can do it. Let’s fight with a lionheart because every step towards your dream is difficult, as every player worldwide shares the same dream.”

The responsibility should not be placed solely on Rexy, as external factors such as injuries have diminished Malaysia’s prospects.
It was recently confirmed that men’s singles player Ng Tze Yong had sustained a muscle tear in his lower back and would not be able to participate in the upcoming Indian Open in New Delhi.
Tze Yong sustained the injury during the tournament’s first round and had to retire in his game against Japan’s Koki Watanabe.
📄Update on Ng Tze Yong’s injury. Get well soon Yong!💪🏼#DemiMalaysia#BadmintonMalaysia pic.twitter.com/v78eynsi9L
— BAM (@BA_Malaysia) January 12, 2024
Insights from the Unpredictable Nature of Competitive Sport
Rexy’s statement acknowledged the disappointment felt across Malaysia and subtly highlighted the universal challenges top-tier badminton nations face.
Indeed, the parallel between the Malaysian and Indonesian teams’ performances has provided a slight reprieve to Malaysian badminton enthusiasts grappling with their team’s early departure from a tournament where they had pinned high hopes.
This shared outcome with Indonesia — a nation that has historically been a benchmark for success in badminton — has offered a unique perspective on the unpredictable nature of competitive sports.
This shared setback has sparked conversations about the pressures of high-stakes tournaments and the fine margins that separate victory from defeat.
Malaysia Open 2024 Super 1000
— Kabarsports_id (@kabarsports_id) January 12, 2024
Fajri Juga Kalah, Wakil Indonesia Dipastikan Habis. NT#MalaysiaOpen #BWFWorldTour #Super1000 #Badminton #BWFBadminton #BadmintonIndonesia #TimIndonesia #OlahragaIndonesia pic.twitter.com/7dITl9d8i4
Badminton Fans Voice Frustration as Disappointment Continues
The recent string of disappointing performances has led to a surge in critical discussions and debates among badminton enthusiasts.
Fans are vocalizing their concerns about the team’s performance and expressing their desire for a turnaround in the sport.
kau x pernah tgk game badminton ke? selalu lah jadi tuan rumah kalau bila main kat tempat sendiri boleh kalah, benda chill lah, habiskan duit? kalau habis, pegi la kerja, dpt lah rezeki balik https://t.co/qPL1vihB9s
— ~낟~ (@HangyulMalaysia) January 9, 2024
Sejak mid year tahun lepas tak follow badminton langsung dan still kalah kalah kalah.dahlah malaysia memang bukan powerhouse dah,main congkak je la
— Gadis Krepek (@awatifawatof) January 10, 2024
Despite the latest disappointments, it’s important to note that the Malaysian badminton team has not been without its victories.
The players have shown flashes of brilliance in various international fixtures, and their talent remains undisputed, offering a glimmer of hope amidst the wave of criticism.
While social media can often amplify negative sentiments, it also serves as a platform for rallying support and fostering a collective resolve to overcome challenges.
thank you Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik! come back stronger! jangan sedih-sedih! #GemilangkanLagi #PETRONASMalaysiaOpen2024
— cathy koh (@cathykohbl) January 13, 2024

Fans’ Unwavering Support and BAM’s Organizational Excellence
While the players didn’t meet expectations, the fans at Axiata Arena showed unwavering support, cheering and backing the Malaysian players even during difficult losses.
Even in defeat, the fans expressed their appreciation by patiently waiting for autographs and taking selfies with the players, demonstrating their unwavering support.
Sanggup menunggu 45 minit semata-mata nak tengok Wooi Yik & Aaron Chia 😍#PETRONASMalaysiaOpen2024 pic.twitter.com/9LR7SF0usp
— Nadia yusoff (@Nadianuya) January 13, 2024
Additionally, BAM deserves praise for organizing another well-run tournament, providing fans with exciting action and exceptional value for the time and money spent.
The organization’s attention to detail extended to taking good care of the media personnel, ensuring they had the necessary support and resources to cover the event effectively.

Indeed, fans recognized that winning wasn’t the only thing that mattered and appreciated the players’ positive attributes, including their personalities, as demonstrated by a huge crowd at Axiata Arena throughout the tournament.
Some pointed out that women’s singles player Goh Jin Wei, affectionately known as Wei Wei, is so cute, funny, and adorable off the court, but when she steps onto the court, she transforms into a fierce and aggressive player.
Jin Wei also earned the crowd’s admiration by enhancing her game and fitness, even though she lost 15-21, 22-24 to Indonesian player Gregoria Mariska Tunjung in the second round.
#PETRONASMalaysiaOpen2024 Wei Wei off court memang comel cute funny je but when on court bertukar so garang fierce Goh Jin Wei 🤣🤣 #PMO2024 pic.twitter.com/bwMfLfy0yw
— Hafizah Hisham (@hafizah_jjt) January 12, 2024
Reflecting on the Past, Hoping for the Future
Many Malaysians miss the glory days of legendary badminton players like Datuk Lee Chong Wei and Rashid Sidek, who were instrumental in elevating Malaysian badminton to international prominence.
The high achievements of the players have established a benchmark for Malaysian badminton, and the present performance of Malaysian players has led to much contemplation.
Life of a Lee zii jia fan:
— Rajvinder (@CFC_Rajvinder) January 9, 2024
90%-Reminiscing about the All England victory he won years ago
5%- Trying to say Ng Tze Yong is irrelevant while always talking about him
4%- Bantering other player while their own idol in finished
1%- Watching actual badminton game
But there is hope that better days are ahead for Malaysian badminton, still pursuing its first Olympic gold and the Thomas Cup, which was last won in 1992 on home soil.
The sport has a strong foundation and a rich history of success, so it’s possible that with the right strategies and support, Malaysian players can regain their competitive edge and achieve success in the future.
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