KUALA LUMPUR: Had Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani started the year with better results, they might have qualified for the Paris Olympics.
Following an electrifying performance at the recent Asian Championships (BAC) in Ningbo, China, the Malaysian men's pair are expected to break into the world's top 15 this week.
Sze Fei-Izzuddin went on a giant-killing spree from the onset of the BAC, defeating the likes of world champions Kang Min Hyuk-Seo Seung Jae of South Korea, Olympic champions Lee Yang-Wang Chi Lin of Taiwan, and national teammates Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, the current world No. 19 before settling for the silver medal after a 21-17, 15-21, 21-10 loss to China's Liang Wei Keng-Wang Chang in the final on Sunday.
BAM coaching director, Rexy Mainaky, expressed satisfaction with the overall performance of the national shuttlers, particularly in the men's doubles, but wished some of them had picked up speed earlier in the season.
"Overall, I am pleased with the performance of the players at the BAC, especially the men's doubles.
"Of course, there is still room for improvement, particularly in terms of consistency, but generally the players did well.
"Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun, for instance, lost in the second round, but it was a marginal difference against Taiwan's Lee Jhe Huei-Yang Po Hsuan, who went on to reach the semi-finals.
"Aaron (Chia)-(Soh) Wooi Yik also showed great attitude to reach the semi-finals, whereas Sze Fei-Izzuddin went all the way to the final.
"If only they had started playing like this from the start of the season, they could have qualified for the Olympics," Rexy said on Monday.
The BAC was the final tournament on the one-year qualifying roster to offer Olympic ranking points.
Former world champions, Aaron-Wooi Yik are the sole Malaysian men's pair to qualify for the Paris Games. Each country is allowed a maximum representation of two pairs, provided they finish in the top eight of the Race to Paris standings at the end of the qualifying period.
Separately, Rexy cautioned against overhyping Sze Fei-Izzuddin's achievement at the Asian meet.
"I want them to maintain consistency. If we praise them too much, they will become big headed."
Both Aaron-Wooi Yik and Sze Fei-Izzuddin have been included in the team for the Thomas Cup challenge in Chengdu, China, from April 27-May 5.