KUALA LUMPUR — “When players win, I will be happy for them, but when they lose, I will bleed with them.”
This is the commitment pledged by Kenneth Jonassen, the newly-appointed singles head coach at the Akademi Badminton Malaysia (ABM), as he aims to elevate the standard of Malaysia’s women’s singles players.
While the long-term goal remains securing Malaysia’s first Olympic gold medal at the 2028 Los Angeles Games, the 50-year-old Dane acknowledges that the country’s women’s singles players are far from reaching world-class standards—or even matching their male counterparts.
However, Jonassen, credited with shaping the careers of top Danish players such as two-time Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen and European champion Anders Antonsen, is determined to put in the work.
He aims to develop talents like K. Letshanaa, Siti Zulaikha Azmi, and Oo Shan Zi. Notably, Jonassen also played a key role in the rise of Denmark’s leading women’s singles players, including Line Kjærsfeldt and Mia Blichfeldt.
“It’s true that Malaysian women’s singles cannot be compared to the men’s, but that makes this an interesting challenge for me,” said Jonassen.
“I need to get to know these young players and inspire them with hope and belief that success is possible because it has been done before. We need to establish a foundation where they understand through their training that they can achieve their goals.
“The key to their progress lies in their ambition and desire. Many of these players are very young and have bright futures ahead of them, though it will take time.”
Jonassen also emphasised the importance of standing by the players during difficult times to help them recover and grow.
“My primary role with the women’s singles players will be through conversations. From my experience, self-doubt is a significant issue for many players. They need to know that we believe in them and give them opportunities to compete at the highest level to build their confidence.
“Women’s singles and men’s singles are very different. How we work with them daily—the physical and mental challenges—requires a tailored approach. Some components need to be instilled in the women’s game, and we must also accept that players mature at different rates.”
Jonassen is confident that his energy and passion will resonate with the players.
“They will feel my energy during every practice session. It’s important they see that passion.
“I want them to know that when they win, I will be happy for them. But when they lose, I will bleed with them.
“If I have two players performing well, of course, I’ll be proud of them, but my thoughts will always be with the ones who are struggling—because I know how it feels to lose.
“In fact, if you’re already a winner, you might not need me as much,” he added.
Currently, the women’s singles department is led by coaches Jeffer Rosobin of Indonesia and Misbun Ramdan.
Independent shuttler Goh Jin Wei remains Malaysia’s highest-ranked women’s singles player at World No. 41, with Letshanaa ranked 55th.
Meanwhile, Jonassen urged fans to be patient as he settles into his new role, particularly during the early months.
“I don’t have all the answers yet, but with time, we will figure things out together,” he said. – November 25, 2024