KUALA LUMPUR: The national junior shuttlers are expected to step up a gear after a decent run in the mixed team event when the individual competition begins on Wednesday at the Asia Junior Championships in Yogyakarta.
The Malaysian team won the mixed team bronze after losing 3-1 to China in the semi-finals on Monday.
It was the country's first medal in the event after their bronze effort at the 2018 Jakarta edition.
BA of Malaysia (BAM) development coach Jeffer Rosobin believes his shuttlers will rise to the occasion in the individual events.
Malaysia are pinning their hopes on world No. 1 boys' doubles pair Aaron Tai-Kang Khai Xing and world No. 6 girls' singles player Siti Zulaikha Azmi to deliver the goods.
He reminded the medal contenders and other shuttlers to be mentally tough during the individual events.
"Our shuttlers did a great job in the mixed team competition. They did their best. I believe the shuttlers can do better in the individual events," said Rosobin.
"Siti Zulaikha and her girls' singles teammate Ong Xin Yee were under some pressure in the mixed team event. However, I believe the outing will make them wiser when they start their individual competition.
Team manager Vincent Chin was proud of his charges' bronze-medal effort in the mixed team event.
"We hope the shuttlers will grow, and I hope they will end their journey with some individual titles.
He added that his players are scared of meeting expectations.
"We are trying to change their mindset. Our coaches want them to have that winning mentality during matches. Everyone wants to win, so our shuttlers cannot start the match thinking they would lose," said Vincent.
Meanwhile, China won the mixed team gold medal when they defeated South Korea 3-1 in the final on Tuesday.