Malaysia is considering various mixed doubles pairings ahead of the team events at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, set to commence on Sunday. National doubles coaching director Rexy Mainaky said the final line-ups for the opening round remain unsettled as the coaching staff evaluates different combinations.

The Malaysian mixed doubles squad includes the husband-and-wife duo Goh Soon Huat and Shevon Lai Jamie, alongside Chen Tang Jie and Cheng Su Yin. The team’s options have expanded due to uncertainty over the fitness of women’s doubles player Noraqilah Maisarah Ramdan, who is still recovering from a left ankle injury. Her participation, especially alongside partner Low Zi Yu, remains doubtful, potentially prompting adjustments in the women’s doubles pairs.

If Noraqilah is not fit to compete, Low Zi Yu may partner either Cheng Su Yin or Shevon Lai Jamie, with a possible Su Yin-Shevon combination also under consideration. Rexy indicated that the coaching team anticipates having a clearer view of their lineup once the team-event draw takes place, scheduled for the day before competition begins.

Malaysia enters the team events unseeded, with the men’s team ranked sixth and the women’s team seventh. Only the top four teams receive seedings. Notably, the women’s team marks its return to the Asian Games team event after a 12-year absence, having last participated in Incheon 2014.

Rexy emphasized the importance of strategic planning, saying the coaching staff, alongside team manager Datuk Ng Chin Chai and singles coaching director Kenneth Jonassen, will carefully consider the best approach once the draw is known. “We have to be prepared for every possibility because the team event requires careful planning,” he said.

Acknowledging the competitive challenges, Rexy stressed that Malaysia must elevate their performance to reach the semi-finals and secure at least a bronze medal. “We have to be realistic. In the team event, we not only have to work hard, but work twice as hard. The minimum target is to reach the semi-finals,” he said.

He pointed to strong opponents such as Hong Kong, which fields multiple strong men’s singles players, as motivation for Malaysia’s team to perform at their best. The team events at the Asian Games provide a critical platform for Malaysia to showcase their talent against some of the continent’s top badminton teams.