INDONESIAN badminton legend Rexy Mainaky predicts 2024 will be Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik's year if the men's doubles pair can improve on their consistency.
Yesterday, Rexy reported for duty as BA of Malaysia (BAM) deputy coaching director at the Academy Badminton Malaysia (ABM) in Bukit Kiara.
It is Rexy's second stint here after serving the national setup as men's doubles coach from 2005-2012.
The 53-year-old admitted he has his work cut out to deliver immediate results, but his main target is to produce Malaysia's first Olympic and world champion.
Rexy said: "I have yet to meet the elite players and coaches because they are not in the country right now, but eventually, I would like to know what is the working relationship here.
"I understand that Aaron-Wooi Yik have yet to win an Open title. We need to find out why. Aaron-Wooi Yik need to be open if they want to move forward.
"They must not think of themselves as elite players because they have yet to win a title.
"These players are not getting any younger, and the longer they go without winning a title, their confidence will drop. We need to evaluate and see if we have missed out on something.
"We need to make some brave decisions. I want to sit and discuss with the players and coaches first. I don't want to punish anybody.
"If we can all be on the same page, and if Aaron-Wooi Yik can focus on improving their consistency, even in training, I predict 2024 will be their year."
The no-nonsense Rexy noted that certain ground rules have to be laid on the table.
"From the start, we cannot be cruel, but we need to be tough, and the players need to understand this.
"Players and coaches need to agree on the tournament plan and the targets.
"If we are sending them for between 12 and 14 tournaments a year, we need to set their targets to win a title or be in the final of at least six to eight of them.
"If the players do not achieve these targets, then we will need to punish them by limiting their participation.
"If they do perform and meet the targets, then we will reward them and perhaps allow them to play in more tournaments.
"But we can't implement this suddenly. It has got to be discussed and agreed upon from the start.
"If we can all have the same level of commitment and understanding, then it's all systems go," added Rexy.
Earlier this week, Aaron-Wooi Yik came under fire for blaming BAM on their failure to qualify for the ongoing BWF World Tour Finals in Bali.
The pair claimed they missed out on the season-ending finale following BAM's decision not allow them to compete in the Hylo Open in Germany last month.