Ahmad Jais calls for aggressive display against Thailand in final
NAGOYA: National head coach Ahmad Jais Baharun has rallied Malaysia to adopt a more aggressive approach if they want to dethrone Thailand in Friday's final in a bid to end a 36-year wait for the team regu gold at the Asian Games.
NAGOYA: National head coach Ahmad Jais Baharun has called for a more aggressive display against Thailand in the final of the team regu event at the Asian Games, in hopes of ending a 36-year wait for the team's gold medal. Jais believes his players were too cautious during their 2-1 semi-final victory over Indonesia and wants them to showcase their attacking skills against the defending champions in the title showdown at Paloma Mizuho Arena.
Malaysia's last gold in the team regu event was achieved in the 1990 Beijing Asian Games, where they defeated Thailand in the final. In an interview after the match against Indonesia, Jais said the final would be different, and the team capable of producing the better performance while making the fewest mistakes would likely prevail.
Thailand aims to defend their title, while Malaysia seeks a historic achievement after 36 years. The national team must play attacking defensive, as playing too defensively benefits the opposition's defense and counter-attacks. Malaysia trailed 10-15, 15-13, 15-13 against Indonesia in the first regu but managed to equalize in the second regu, ultimately securing the win in the third regu.
Jais acknowledged the players' fighting spirit, but noted there are still weaknesses, particularly consistency and reducing unforced errors.
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