KUALA LUMPUR: BAM Coaching Director, Rexy Mainaky said he will only start worrying if the national players cannot recognise their own shortcomings.
Despite the disappointing performances of several top doubles players at the Malaysia Masters, particularly those under the Road to Gold (RTG) Olympic programme, Rexy said there is still time for them to improve before the Paris Games in July.
However, Rexy stressed that the coaches and management can only do so much to help, unless the players themselves acknowledge what went wrong and what needs to be done.
Despite the absence of many top international stars, Malaysia's No. 1 men's pair Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik and mixed doubles Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei failed to take their chances.
Former world champions Aaron-Wooi Yik were sent packing in the quarter-finals by unheralded South Koreans Jin Yong-Na Sung Seung while top seeds Tang Jie-Ee Wei fell to independents Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai in the semi-finals.
Women's doubles Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah, playing in their first tournament since the Asian Championships last month, fell to South Korea's Lee Yu Lim-Shin Seung Chan in the last four stage.
"If we look at the RTG players' rankings, we expected them all to reach the final.
"Pearly only got back into full fitness a week before the Malaysia Masters, so it's still okay. But in all honesty, I cannot accept Aaron-Wooi Yik and Tang Jie-Ee Wei's performance.
"It's not the defeat that is concerning, but the performance itself. Aaron-Wooi Yik played against the Koreans like it didn't matter much while Tang Jie-Ee Wei completely lost control of their own emotions on court.
"These players lost because of their own doing, and the sooner they realise this, the better for them," lamented Rexy.
With only a few more tournaments left before the Paris Games, Rexy urged the players to be more open in accepting their own faults.
"As you all already know, we have minimised the media-players interaction to only once a week because we want the players to remain focused and not be distracted.
"We are doing so much to help them, but if they don't recognise their own shortcomings, then I will start worrying. For now, there is still time," Rexy added.
While the Indonesian former Olympic and world champion was disappointed with the performances of the country's top pairs, he was pleased with how Wan Arif Wan Junaidi-Yap Roy King and Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun fared at the Axiata Arena.
"Arif-Roy King did really well, and I would give them a nine out of 10 rating. I just hope they don't get too big-headed and continue pushing themselves.
"Wei Chong-Kai Wun were also okay, but they just need to be more brave when up against higher-ranked players.
"I spoke to women's doubles coach Hoon Thien How, and we are looking at ways to beef up Pearly's defence," said Rexy, who wants to see progress at the upcoming Singapore and Indonesia Opens