Rexy enjoys coching stint in England<\/p>\n
Eva C. Komandjaja, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Former Indonesian badminton star Rexy Mainaky looks to be
\nenjoying his coaching stint in England.<\/p>\n
Rexy, paired up with Ricky Subagdja, won the Olympic gold in
\nAtlanta.<\/p>\n
After their failure to defend the title in Sydney in 2000,
\nRexy announced retirement and chose to try his coaching expertise
\nin England in 2001.<\/p>\n
\"Actually, deep in my heart I wish I could go back and live in
\nIndonesia, but it's difficult because my children seem to have
\nbecome used to living and studying in England,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Rexy is married to Henny Saijati, and has two daughters:
\nGeraldine and Christian Rudolph, six and four years of age
\nrespectively.<\/p>\n
His second contract will expire 2005 and Rexy sees the
\npossibility of extending it thereafter.<\/p>\n
\"This is my fourth year in England. My first contract ended in
\n2003. They renewed it up to 2005. Maybe after it ends next year,
\nthey'll extend the contract again,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He was seen chatting with former partner Ricky during the
\npractice session on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Asked about his team's chances in the Thomas Cup, he said that
\nhe did not have a target for his team, given that it would be
\nhard to win the Cup with competitors like China and Indonesia.<\/p>\n
The England team has its best doubles players in Nathan
\nRobertson and Clark Anthony, who are ranked 11th in the world.<\/p>\n
England is in the same group as Japan and Denmark. In its
\nfirst match, it lost to Denmark 5-0. On Sunday, it was involved
\nin a tight contest with Japan before going down 3-2 to finish at
\nthe bottom of Group D.<\/p>\n
England will now have to play against Thailand for a place in
\nthe quarterfinals.<\/p>\n
Despite the prospects of the playoff, Rexy said he had enjoyed
\nhis trip home, as he always did.<\/p>\n
\"It's great to be here. Well, it's like going home for free as
\nI am here with the England team,\" he said laughing.<\/p>\n
Back in the 1990s, Rexy and Ricky won the prestigious All
\nEngland tournament twice.<\/p>\n
They won the World Championships in 1995 and helped the
\nIndonesian team win the Thomas Cup four times. During those
\ntriumphant years, the pair earned Indonesia its only gold at the
\n1996 Olympics in Atlanta.<\/p>\n
Commenting on Indonesia's Thomas Cup lineup, which includes
\nyoung players such as Simon Santoso who is only 19 year old, Rexy
\nsaid that Indonesia should be able to retain the Cup.<\/p>\n
\"I think Indonesia has a good chance of retaining the Thomas
\nCup. The should have a more than 50 percent chance,\" he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/rexy-enjoys-coching-stint-in-england-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}