MALAYSIA'S doubles players are at times too generous and this is costing them.

National doubles chief coach Rexy Mainaky said this can only be stopped if the players start believing in themselves, battle hard and stop throwing away chances that could have earned them titles.

Rexy added that the 21-point scoring system leaves no room for players to relax and their intensity must be maintained if Malaysian players wish to remain consistent.

Consistency has helped Indonesia's Markis Kido-Hendra Setiawan and Jung Jae Sung-Lee Yong Dae of South Korea win five titles each this year, while Malaysians Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong only have the Macau Open to show.

Compatriots Zakry Latif-Fairuzizuan Tazari are marginally better with two Super Series titles.
In the recent Hong Kong Open, Kien Keat-Boon Heong eliminated Markis-Hendra but fell to Zakry-Fairuz in the semis.

In the final, Zakry-Fairuz matched Jae Sung-Yong Dae shot for shot but it was the mentally stronger Koreans who triumphed.

"Our players are on par in terms of skill but are all a little too generous, and opponents have capitalised on this," said Rexy.

"The current scoring system doesn't leaves room for players to relax and trailing by anything more than five points means certain defeat. Our players sometimes do not finish off a game when they can.

"We have seen our players work hard for points and then suddenly you see them conceding five points in a row. However, it must be said that it's never easy to earn points from Markis-Hendra or Jae Sung-Yong Dae as they work hard for their wins.

"The error margin must always be kept low but our players commit too many unforced errors. This is because they don't really believe in or follow their game plan.

"The younger players must also work hard and utilise every chance. They should look at Yong Dae as an example. He is only 20 but shows maturity and confidence before and during a match which allows him to produce his best. Yong Dae would not have become an Olympic champion so young if not for these qualities."

The Korean partnered Lee Hyo Jung for the mixed doubles title in the Beijing Olympics in August.

The consistency of Kien Keat-Boon Heong and Zakry-Fairuz will come under scrutiny again at the Super Series Masters Finals in Kota Kinabalu on Dec 18-21 where the world's top eight pairs will be competing.