Nova to work on Cheng's mental fragility to help her cope with pressure
PETALING JAYA: There are no plans to break up mixed doubles pair Hoo Pang Ron-Cheng Su Yin for now despite their ongoing struggles on the international stage.
National mixed doubles head coach Nova Widianto has given his backing to the pair, insisting they remain among the best combinations in the country.
Since finishing runners-up at the China Masters last November, Pang Ron-Su Yin have found it tough to replicate that form.
They have competed in nine tournaments so far this year, including the Asian Championships, but have failed to progress beyond the early rounds in most.
Their best results this season have been quarter-final appearances at the Indonesian Masters and Orleans Masters.
Nova believes the root of their struggles lies in their mental fragility particularly Su Yin since stepping up to elite-level competitions.
'Su Yin, especially, is still adjusting to the pressure. Their current ranking is quite high, but they're struggling to manage expectations and it's leading to stress,' said Nova.
'She used to play women's doubles in lower-tier events like the International Challenge, but now that she's competing at a higher level, the lack of mental strength is starting to show.'
To help them cope, Nova wants the pair to replicate match pressure during training.
'They've shown quality in flashes, even beating top players in some tournaments. But winning titles takes more than that, it requires strong character and mental resilience.
'This needs to be developed in training. If they can't handle pressure during practice, they won't be able to manage it in real matches.
'They need to get used to different scenarios, for example how to react when they're trailing, how to handle defeat, or how to support each other when one isn't playing well,' he added.
Pang Ron-Su Yin will be looking to bounce back at the Japan Open in Tokyo from July 15-20, before heading to Changzhou for the China Open a week later.
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