KUALA LUMPUR: BAM coaching director Rexy Mainaky can certainly put himself into the shoes of Malaysian shuttlers who are under great pressure to carry the nation's hope to win that elusive Olympic gold medal.
Badminton has been the major medal contributor for Malaysia since the sport's inception in Barcelona 1992, accounting for 11 of the 15 medals won thus far, including the two additional bronze from the just concluded Paris Games.
It wasn't until London 2012 that diving stepped up with Pandelela Rinong clinching bronze, followed by Azizulhasni Awang's feat in track cycling in Rio 2016.
But with diving now appearing to be a fading force, coupled with Azizulhasni's retirement, it looks like badminton will continue to be relied upon at the Los Angeles 2028 Games.
Hence, Rexy believes that Malaysia should really start looking elsewhere to invest heavily in if they want to boost their medal hopes at the Olympics, especially gold.
Rexy pointed out that, the Philippines for example, won two gold in Paris through gymnastics ace Carlos Yulo.
It was somehow interesting that Rexy did not use his own country, Indonesia, as a reference. Whilst their badminton team flopped, Indonesia also claimed their first two historic gold medals outside badminton, one each through weightlifting and sport climbing.
"In future, (maybe) we shouldn't be expecting only from badminton (as medal propect sport)," said Rexy.
"Why not focus on sports which can produce more medals such as athletics, swimming or gymnastics?
"Swimming for instance, has many races, 50m, 100m, inject funds in that sport and send the athletes to be based in United States.
"Philippines invested in gymnastics and it has paid off. They used to win medals from weightlifting."
Rexy's suggestion came after the National Sports Council said it is ready to give more attention to the "less popular" sports that offer many medals, and get athletes to participate in them.
NSC claimed that many nations have turned their focus to less prominent disciplines such as skateboarding, sport climbing and surfing, and won medals, and Malaysia should not be left out.