Herry IP Target Brings Malaysia To Get Olympic Gold

Herry Iman Pierngadi targets Malaysia to win gold at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics in the men's doubles sector (doc. PBSI).

JAKARTA Herry Iman Pierngadi has ambitions to bring Malaysia to an Olympic gold medal after he was officially contracted to coach the men's doubles sector.

The coach nicknamed Naga Api was officially announced as the men's doubles coach by the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) on Saturday, January 11, 2025.

Herry, after signing a four-year contract, said that his big target was to donate an Olympic gold medal that Malaysia had never previously won.

"Winning the first Olympic gold for Malaysia is my main goal," Herry said as quoted by the New Straits Times.

The 62-year-old coach has at least three more years of working time to pursue this feat at the Los Angeles Olympics, United States, in 2028.

The Olympic gold medal is noted to be very close to Herry. He previously earned this achievement with Candra Wijaya/Tony Gunawa (Sydney 2000) and Hendra Setiawan/Markis Kido (Beijing 2008).

"The Olympic pack is the dream of all countries. I will use all the knowledge and expertise I have to help Malaysia achieve it at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics," said Herry.

Currently, Indonesia has several very promising couples, including Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik, Wei Chong/Kai Wun, CHOng Hon Jian/Haikal Nazri, Wan Arif Wan Junaidi/Yap Roy King, and junior world champion Aaron Tai/Kang Khai Xing.

Herry revealed that the abundance of talent owned by Malaysia was a determining factor for him to decide to join BAM rather than an offer from Thailand.

"There are about eight couples and we have four years before the Olympics. I will not focus on the top one pair alone, but I will observe and guide everyone," he said.

Herry IP officially started working on February 1, 2025. Thus, he has more than a month of preparation to face the first major event at All England 2025 in the second week of March 2025.