KUALA LUMPUR – The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) is reportedly considering former national shuttler Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin to fill the vacant women’s singles coaching position left by Indonesian Jeffer Rosobin’s resignation last month.
A highly reliable source told Scoop, “I heard that BAM is interested in roping in Iskandar. I am not sure if they have made any direct contact with him.”
It is learned that Iskandar, 33, is among the frontrunners on BAM’s shortlist. However, it remains unclear whether the national body has reached out to Iskandar, who is currently coaching the Ireland national team.
Iskandar, a former world junior finalist, left the Malaysian national squad in 2018 to pursue an independent career.
In 2021, he moved to Ireland to become a sparring partner for world No. 40 Nhat Nguyen, before transitioning into a full-time coaching role the following year.
Under Iskandar’s guidance, Nhat secured qualification for the 2024 Paris Olympics. More recently, Nhat defeated Malaysia’s number one men’s singles player and Paris Olympics bronze medallist Lee Zii Jia in the quarter-finals of the Orleans Masters in France.
As a player, Iskandar saw several highlights in his career, including finishing runner-up at both the 2009 Asian and World Junior Championships. On the senior circuit, he made the final of the 2016 Malaysia Masters in Penang, where he lost to Datuk Lee Chong Wei. He was also part of Malaysia’s Thomas Cup squad that reached the quarter-finals in 2018.
BAM’s search for a new women’s singles coach comes at a critical time, with the national team facing pressure to improve performances.
The recent struggles at the All England and other tournaments have put the coaching setup under scrutiny, making the selection of Rosobin’s successor a crucial decision.
If BAM decides to bring Iskandar back into the fold, it would mark an interesting shift, given his experience in both the national and independent circuits. His ability to develop players, as demonstrated in Ireland, could be a valuable asset in revitalising Malaysia’s women’s singles programme.
That said, it remains to be seen if Iskandar would be willing to leave his current role in Europe, where he has built a reputation as a promising young coach.
His experience overseas may also make him a strong candidate for future roles beyond Malaysia’s borders. – March 16, 2025