Hoon on lookout for replacements after world junior champs Aaron-Kang join senior rank
Impressive feat: Aaron Tai-Kang Khai Xing captured the boys' doubles title in the World Junior Championships last year.
IPOH: The battle to be the next Aaron Tai-Kang Khai Xing starts now.
Shuttlers Aaron-Khai Xing, who captured the boys' doubles title in the World Junior Championships last year, have moved up to the senior team, leaving a void behind in the junior set-up.
Junior doubles coach Hoon Thien How admitted that it will be no easy task to replace Aaron and Khai Xing.
'Aaron and Khai Xing joined BAM (Badminton Association of Malaysia) when they were 13 while the current batch of players only came in last year and are mostly around 17.
'So, while Aaron-Khai Xing had time to master the basics here, we need to change many aspects of the game in the players currently we have as they are coming into the team much later from the states.
'We have also decided to shake up the partnerships and try out new combinations after unsatisfactory results in a few tournaments.
'We felt there was a gap between our pairs and those from China, South Korea and Japan and we need to make changes before the Asian Junior Championships in July,' added Thien How.
Among the new pairs that Thien How is trying out are Datu Anif Isaac-Damien Ling, Isyraf Hafizin-Ungku Mohamed Ungku Ameer and Mohd Shazmir Irfan-Pang Khai Zhe.
Anif will be taking on double duty as he will also continue playing in the mixed doubles with Dania Sofea Zaidi.
The 17-year-old has proved his potential with Dania and the duo finished runners-up in the Dutch Junior International in March.
Thien How feels Anif has what it takes to excel in the boys' doubles too and hopes Damien, who is also 17 and joined BAM last year, will be the right partner for him.
'I saw Anif play in the Dutch Juniors and felt he has the quality to play in boys' doubles too,' said Thien How.
'It's not easy though to get the right partner for him. Damien is capable of playing at the front court while Anif is more adept at the back.
'Both have looked good together in training, so we want to try them out in tournaments and see.'
Anif-Damien are the top seeds in the Under-18 National Championships and will be out to justify the faith shown by Thien How in them.
Isyraf-Ungku Mohamed Ungku Ameer and Mohd Shazmir Irfan-Khai Zhe are also playing in the tourney and all three pairs will be vying for the title along with others as BAM's search for the next Aaron-Khai Xing begins.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
11 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Badminton coach Iskandar leaving Ireland for Malaysia?
KUALA LUMPUR: Former national shuttler Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin is in the frame to fill the vacant position of national women's singles coach. BAM singles coaching director Kenneth Jonassen feels that Iskandar could be a valuable addition to the national set-up. But the Dane stopped short of naming him as the frontrunner to replace Indonesian Jeffer Rosobin who resigned in February. Iskandar joined Badminton Ireland in 2021 as a sparring partner, but has transitioned into the role of singles coach. The 33-year-old said during last month's Malaysia Masters that BAM had approached him earlier this year on a coaching role. However, Iskandar remained non-committal then as his family were residing in Ireland. Jonassen acknowledged that Iskandar's experience makes him a strong candidate, but said BAM is still looking at several prospects. "I can't confirm if he's on the shortlist, but of course, he's an experienced coach, someone who would certainly be a good fit for our set-up," said Jonassen.
The Star
12 hours ago
- The Star
Rexy, Herry thank RTG for appreciating coaches' role with pay rise
PETALING JAYA: Thank you, Road to Gold (RTG). National doubles coaching director Rexy Mainaky and men's doubles head coach Herry Iman Pierngadi expressed their gratitude to the elite athletes programme committee after they were rewarded with salary increases following the good performances of several doubles shuttlers. Mixed doubles and women's doubles coaches Nova Widianto and Rosman Razak were also given a pay rise. "I'm really happy to see the coaches get appreciated for their achievements and hard work. Thanks to RTG," said Rexy, who was redesignated from the national coaching director to managing the doubles in March. Herry, who was only appointed by the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) in February echoed Rexy's sentiments. "Of course I feel happy and I want to thank RTG for rewarding the coaches," said Herry. Herry has made a stunning impact in a short time since taking over from Tan Bin Shen, guiding world No. 2 Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik to the Asian Championships gold in April, Thailand Open and Singapore Open titles last month. The experienced Indonesian also helped world No. 7 Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun win the Malaysian Masters last month. Wei Chong-Kai Wun beat Aaron-Wooi Yik in an all-Malaysian final in the home tourney. Meanwhile, under Rosman, Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah won the Thailand Open, finished runners-up in the Indonesian Open and reached a career-high No. 3 in the world recently. Nova has also done well to produce two mixed pairs - Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei (No. 4) and Hoo Pang Ron-Cheng Su Yin (No. 13) - in the world's top 20 since joining BAM at the end of 2022.
The Star
14 hours ago
- The Star
Liu Ying assures Tze Yong on treatment abroad with her story in Germany
PETALING JAYA: There's no denying the capabilities of local specialists, but there's also no harm in seeking the best possible treatment abroad. That's the view of 2016 Rio Olympics silver medallist Goh Liu Ying, who believes shuttler Ng Tze Yong could gain valuable insights and experience by undergoing rehabilitation overseas, something she went through herself in 2017. Tze Yong is currently awaiting surgery after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee during the Malaysia Masters two weeks ago. Liu Ying, who battled serious injuries to both knees and a shoulder in 2017, was sent to Halle, Germany, by the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) for treatment. Reflecting on her six-week stint there, Liu Ying said she received high-quality care and was exposed to new rehabilitation techniques that played a key role in her recovery. 'I found their technology to be more advanced, especially in terms of recovery methods,' said Liu Ying when contacted. 'While I was there, I learnt new things, techniques and approaches to rehab that I had never seen in Malaysia.' More importantly, she hopes her experience serves as a reminder to Tze Yong that a serious injury doesn't have to signal the end of a career. "I'm living proof that you can bounce back. It won't be easy, but it's possible." Liu Ying also echoed the advice of badminton legend Datuk Lee Chong Wei, who had earlier urged Tze Yong to consider seeking top-notch medical care abroad to safeguard his career. However, she cautioned that not every hospital is equipped with sports medicine expertise, and advised careful planning before making a decision. "Not all hospitals offer specialised care for athletes. He should take time to research and choose a facility that has proven experience in treating sports injuries. "In my case, I was in Germany for about a month and a half, and it wasn't easy. For most of the time, I was alone. Only in the first few days did I have a physiotherapist with me. After that, I had to manage on my own until I returned to Malaysia." That, she said, was when mental strength became crucial. "You need to ask yourself why you're going through this surgery. It's because you want to get back on court. So you must stick to the rehab plan and carry it out properly and with full commitment. "If you look at it from a different perspective, it can be a refreshing change, while others are feeling the pressure of competitions, you get to focus solely on your recovery."
