KUALA LUMPUR — After the announcement of a new coaching structure yesterday, the big question on everyone’s mind is who will be appointed as the new head coaches for men’s singles as well as women’s singles and doubles, at Akademi Badminton Malaysia (ABM).
Could it be international names like Denmark’s Kenneth Jonassen, South Korea’s Park Joo Bong, or Indonesia’s Mulyo Handoyo?
Former international player Datuk James Selvaraj believes it could even be one of three Malaysian coaches – Jeremy Gan, Tan Kim Her, or Lee Wan Wah – currently working alongside Joo Bong at the Nippon Badminton Association.
“It’s hard to say, but certain dynamics will be at play if Malaysia wants to bring in Joo Bong. Will he be willing to report to Rexy?” James, who was the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) high-performance director from 2010 to 2012, told Scoop.
“However, there is also a possibility that one of the three Malaysian coaches could return. We must understand that they are only in Japan because of Joo Bong. If he leaves, I doubt they would stay on.”
According to Japanese news reports, Joo Bong’s contract with the Nippon Badminton Association will not be renewed, while the three Malaysian coaches have contracts that run until March 2025.
Jeremy is currently with the elite mixed doubles department, Kim Her is coaching the men’s doubles squad, and Wan Wah is handling the backup players.
When announcing the new coaching structure, ABM coaching director Rexy Mainaky made it clear that any new coach must meet specific criteria, including extensive experience and a proven track record of producing world-class players.
Since taking over as Japan’s head coach in 2004, Joo Bong has transformed the country into a badminton powerhouse.
Similarly, Jeremy has played a key role in the rise of three-time All England champions Yuta Watanabe and Arisa Higashino, while Kim Her guided Takuro Hoki and Yugo Kobayashi to the 2021 World Championship title.
Another major consideration will be the cost. Is BAM willing to invest significant sums in these high-profile coaches?
It is understood that former men’s singles head coach, Hendrawan, earned around US$10,000 (RM42,000) a month.
Should BAM choose to hire coaches like Joo Bong, Jonassen, or even Mulyo, they would likely need to offer a salary similar to, if not higher than, what Hendrawan was earning.
Hendrawan, who first joined BAM in 2009, will be leaving at the end of the month as his contract will not be renewed.
BAM will also be parting ways with junior singles coach Ameer Amri Zainuddin. — October 2, 2024