Kuala Lumpur — The success of Malaysia’s top men’s doubles pair Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik, who clinched the 2025 Badminton Asia Championships (BAC) title in Ningbo, China, has stirred mixed reactions—particularly among Indonesian badminton fans who were frustrated not at the winners, but at their own federation, PBSI (Badminton Association of Indonesia), for letting go of the coach behind Malaysia’s triumph: Herry Iman Pierngadi.
Known affectionately as “Coach Naga Api”, Herry joined the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) in early 2025 and has since been instrumental in revitalizing the Malaysian men’s doubles squad. Under his guidance, Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik delivered a dominant campaign capped by a stunning straight-sets victory over China’s Chen Bo Yang/Liu Yi to secure Malaysia’s first BAC men’s doubles gold in 18 years.
Watch Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik’s victory in the 2025 BAC final:
Herry Responds Calmly to Backlash in Indonesia
While Herry’s coaching brilliance was widely applauded in Malaysia, the victory also ignited criticism from Indonesian fans who blamed PBSI (Badminton Association of Indonesia) for not renewing Herry’s contract. Many supporters viewed his departure as a significant loss, especially given the stagnating performance of Indonesia’s men’s doubles over the past year.
But Herry, a seasoned coach with over 25 years of service at PBSI, chose not to dwell on the criticism.
“That’s the risk when you work abroad. Some fans may have hard feelings, but I hold no grudges. I understand their emotions. Maybe they’re disappointed that I’m now helping another country succeed—but for me, that’s normal,” he told Malaysian media.
“I have no issues with PBSI. In Ningbo, I even had dinner with some of the Indonesian players. We’ve been friends for years. The relationship is still good.”
A Coaching Legacy That Speaks Volumes
Herry’s resume is unparalleled in men’s doubles. He produced multiple Olympic gold medalists, including Tony Gunawan/Candra Wijaya (Sydney 2000) and Markis Kido/Hendra Setiawan (Beijing 2008), and nurtured countless world-class pairs for Indonesia.
His decision to join BAM in 2024 was seen as a turning point for Malaysia’s men’s doubles team—and the BAC 2025 victory by Aaron/Soh only solidified his status as one of the best men’s doubles coaches in the world.
A Wake-Up Call for Indonesian Badminton?
The frustration among Indonesian fans highlights deeper concerns about PBSI’s current direction. Many believe the federation lost a crucial asset in Herry and are now witnessing that talent benefit a direct rival.
While Malaysia celebrates a long-awaited gold, the spotlight also shines on PBSI’s decision-making, igniting calls for introspection and a potential coaching revamp.
