Zakry Targets New Generation of Malaysian Women’s Doubles Stars

PETALING JAYA – Malaysia is aiming to build a stronger foundation in women’s doubles badminton, with newly appointed coach Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif tasked with closing the performance gap between the nation’s top pair and the rest of the squad.

Bridging the Gap to World No. 2

Zakry’s primary focus will be supporting head coach Rosman Razak in developing players to challenge Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah, currently ranked world No. 2. The appointment, finalized on Thursday, ends months of speculation surrounding his arrival.

The current landscape shows a significant drop-off in rankings after Pearly-Thinaah. Carmen Ting-Ong Xin Yee holds the next highest position at No. 25, followed by Go Pei Kee (No. 26, alongside Teoh Mei Xing). Cheng Su Hui-Tang Zhing Yi (No. 73) and Chong Jie Yu-Vanessa Ng (No. 75) trail further behind, with Zhing Yi currently recovering from an injury.

Potential Within the Squad

“The potential is there. We have quite a number of players who have just moved up from the junior ranks as well as those in the back up squad, and we are working on narrowing that gap.”

Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif

After observing the team for two days, Zakry expressed optimism about the talent pool. He emphasized the importance of creating a competitive environment similar to the success seen in the men’s doubles program, where depth allows for consistent results.

Long-Term Vision

Zakry has set a two-year target to develop a new world-class women’s doubles pair. He stated his intention to close the significant gap between the current national pairs and the established elite duo of Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah.

He as well noted that he has not yet received direction from Rosman regarding forming new partnerships, with his initial focus being on player assessment.

Zakry returns to the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) after a 15-year absence, bringing with him a wealth of experience, including a bronze medal from the 2009 World Championships with Mohd Fairuzizuan Tazari and a peak world ranking of No. 4.

FAQ

• What is Zakry’s main goal? To close the gap between Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah and the rest of the women’s doubles squad.
• What is Zakry’s timeline for success? He aims to produce another world-class pair within two years.
• What is Zakry’s experience? He is a former world championship medalist and reached a career-high ranking of No. 4.

The development of a competitive women’s doubles program is crucial for Malaysia’s continued success on the international stage. Zakry’s appointment signals a commitment to building a sustainable pipeline of talent and challenging for future championships.