Rexy ready with backup plan if Noraqilah misses Asian Games

KUALA LUMPUR: National doubles coaching director Rexy Mainaky is keeping Cheng Su Yin and Shevon Lai ready for a tactical reshuffle should Noraqilah Maisarah Ramdan be ruled out of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games team event.

Noraqilah's participation remains uncertain after she injured her left ankle during training at the Badminton Academy of Malaysia last Thursday.

The world No. 49 and partner Low Zi Yu are Malaysia's second women's doubles combination behind world No. 5 Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah.

Mixed doubles players Su Yin and Shevon provide Malaysia with alternative options to form the second women's doubles if Noraqilah is unavailable.

However, Rexy said the coaching team will wait until they have studied the team-event draw before deciding whether to deploy any scratch combinations.

"We have not seen the draw yet. Once we arrive in Japan and have a clearer picture of the draw, we will sit down and discuss it," said Rexy before the team's departure.

"Datuk Ng Chin Chai (team manager) will spend a lot of time with Kenneth (Jonassen), the other coaches and me to determine what we can do."

Noraqilah travelled to Japan on Wednesday while still undergoing rehabilitation and is expected to undergo another medical assessment before a decision is made.

Although her condition has improved, the 19-year-old has only been able to train with limited movement.

Noraqilah has spent the past few days focusing on her recovery and has resumed on-court training, albeit with limited movement.

Rexy admitted Malaysia face a difficult task in the team competition and must work "twice as hard" to reach at least the semi-finals.

He added that the final preparations in Japan will focus on refreshing the players' best performances and making minor adjustments before competition begins at the Ichinomiya City Municipal Gymnasium on Sunday.