Rexy tells shuttlers to give it all against top seeds Indonesia

That was the message from national doubles coaching director Rexy Mainaky to the Malaysian players ahead of their crucial clash against Indonesia in the men's team quarter-finals at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on Tuesday.

Rexy stressed that a strong fighting spirit and a never-say-die mentality will be key for the national squad when they face top seeds Indonesia, who are regarded as one of the leading contenders for the title at the Games.

He said the players must not dwell too much on Indonesia's status as the top-seeded team, but instead step onto the court with confidence and a determination to give everything in every match.

"This is not something where we can say there is a formula or a particular way to approach it.

"Now it comes down to team spirit, and the players must step onto the court thinking, 'I will die on court,'" he said when met after Malaysia defeated Mongolia 3-0 in the last-16 round at the Ichinomiya City Municipal Gymnasium on Monday.

Commenting on the match against Mongolia, Rexy said the decision to field Malaysia's strongest line-up was not merely about securing victory.

Instead, it provided an opportunity for the players to familiarise themselves with the court conditions while also testing the strategies prepared by the coaching team.

"For a multi-sport event like this, whoever we face, we will still field our best team.

"We want the players to experience the court conditions, see how the wind is, and simulate match situations. We also want to see whether what the coaches have prepared can be executed on court," he said.

The experience of playing against Mongolia gave the Malaysian players a slight advantage in understanding the court conditions before facing Indonesia, who received a bye into the last-16.

"We have already experienced the conditions on this court, and I hope the players can take advantage of what we gained today," he said.

Unlike Mongolia, the meeting with Indonesia is expected to provide a genuine test for the national squad, who will need to perform at their best if they are to cause an upset.

Malaysia are expected to rely on the strength of their doubles combinations, Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani and Aaron Chia-Tee Kai Wun, to contribute points, while the singles players will need to secure at least one point through Leong Jun Hao, Justin Hoh, Eogene Ewe or Kong Wei Xing to pull off an upset.

However, Rexy does not want the national squad to rely solely on the strength of one department, stressing that every match must be given equal attention.

"We came here to play five matches. Our focus is on all five matches," he said.

A victory over Indonesia would guarantee Malaysia at least a bronze medal in the men's team event.

The last time Malaysia reached the podium in the men's team event was at the 2014 Incheon Games, when the squad, led by Datuk Seri Lee Chong Wei, won the bronze medal.

Since the men's team event was introduced at the 1962 Asian Games, Malaysia have never won the gold medal.

The country's best achievement remains two silver medals, won at the Bangkok 1966 and Beijing 1990 editions.