KUALA LUMPUR — Since taking the reins of Malaysia’s men’s doubles squad in February, coach Herry IP has quickly made his mark — but for him, five titles in six months is just the beginning.
The Indonesian tactician, fondly referred to as the “Fire Dragon”, celebrated his latest triumph when world No. 24 pair Arif Junaidi and Yap Roy King clinched the Macau Open 2025 title last Sunday. The duo defeated Indonesia’s Sabar Karyaman Gutama and Moh Reza Pahlevi Isfahani in a tough 80-minute final, winning 22-20, 21-18, and sealing what was Malaysia’s fifth men’s doubles title of the season.
Herry has been instrumental in reviving Malaysia’s doubles scene, guiding world No. 2 Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik to major wins at the Badminton Asia Championships, Thailand Open, and Singapore Open. They also reached finals at both the Malaysia Masters and China Open.
Meanwhile, Man Wei Chong and Tee Kai Wun added another title at the Malaysia Masters, contributing to the wave of momentum the national squad is currently enjoying.
Yet despite the impressive haul, Herry remains focused on one ultimate goal: the World Championships in Paris later this month.
“I want to see a Malaysian pair become world champions this year. It doesn’t matter which pair it is — what matters is that they’re from Malaysia,” Herry told local media.
So far, Malaysia has only ever clinched the men’s doubles world title once — courtesy of Aaron and Wooi Yik in 2022, in Tokyo. This time around, four Malaysian duos will battle for glory in Paris. These include Aaron-Wooi Yik, Wei Chong-Kai Wun, and Arif-Roy King from the national setup, as well as independent pair Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin Rumsani, currently ranked world No. 4.
Speaking about the Macau Open final, Herry praised Arif and Roy King for their composure and resilience, especially under challenging conditions. Water leaks from the venue’s air conditioning system caused several game delays due to slippery court patches.
“The boys handled it well. I told them to stay calm and patient. It wasn’t about tactical play — it was about staying focused despite the constant interruptions,” Herry explained.
Their win in Macau not only marked a milestone for the young duo — it also ended a 12-year drought for Malaysia in men’s doubles at the tournament. The last time Malaysia celebrated a win there was in 2013 through Hoon Thien How and Tan Wee Kiong.
As the World Championships approach, Herry believes the recent success will serve as a confidence boost for his players.
“It’s their first title, and it came at the right time. This win will definitely motivate them heading into the Worlds,” he said.
Looking beyond Paris, Herry hopes to elevate Malaysia’s doubles depth to new heights.
“Our performance so far has been solid, but we need more depth. Ideally, Malaysia should have five or six world-class pairs competing for titles, not just two or three. I’m confident that with time, we’ll get there — maybe even next year,” he added.
