Latest news with #NusaMahsuri
The Star
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Star
Ireland continues to be Yeoh's happy hunting ground
PETALING JAYA: From a champion to a coach, the fortune of former national shuttler Yeoh Seng Zoe (pic) has changed in just four years on Irish soil. The 27-year-old Seng Zoe has been named as the national singles coach of Ireland. In 2021, he won the Irish Open title after beating Denmark's Mads Christophersen in the final. Badminton Ireland have wasted no time in naming Seng Zoe as the replacement for Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin to take charge of their squad. Seng Zoe is already a familiar face in Ireland, having spent the past four years in the country. He initially joined as a sparring partner to assist Iskandar, who was then the national men's singles coach, in preparing Nhat Nguyen for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. He was later absorbed into the national coaching set-up and eventually promoted to performance coach. On Monday, Badminton Ireland confirmed that Seng Zoe will now assume the role of national singles coach, succeeding Iskandar. The governing body is hoping the 27-year-old can build on the foundations laid by Iskandar in strengthening their singles department. 'Iskandar has been an incredible coach to work with. His passion for our purpose and values, coupled with the impressive results achieved by the players he coached, speaks volumes about his approach,' said Daniel Magee, Badminton Ireland high performance director in a statement. 'We wish him all the best as he takes up a new opportunity in Malaysia. Yeoh Seng Zoe will take on a role alongside Iskandar in the national singles programme, and Badminton Ireland will review our coaching structure in the coming months.' Last year was one of the best for Irish badminton, with two players, Nguyen and women's singles player Rachael Darragh qualified for the Paris Olympics. Nguyen's Olympic debut was particularly encouraging despite falling short in the group stage. Under Iskandar's guidance, Nguyen also won the Irish Open for two consecutive years, starting in 2023. Interestingly, Seng Zoe is not the only Malaysian contributing to Irish badminton. Mohd Izzuddin Shamsulmuzli, a former Nusa Mahsuri club player, is also serving in the set-up with a focus on junior development. Iskandar was recently roped in by the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) to fill the national women's singles coaching post, which had been left vacant for five months following the resignation of Jeffer Rosobin in late February.
The Star
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Star
Seng Zoe replaces Iskandar as new coach for Ireland
PETALING JAYA: Badminton Ireland have wasted no time in naming a replacement for Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin, turning to another former Malaysian player, Yeoh Seng Zoe, to take charge of their national singles squad. Seng Zoe is already a familiar face in Ireland, having spent the past four years in the country. In fact, he won the Irish Open title in 2021. He initially joined as a sparring partner to assist Iskandar, who was then the national men's singles coach, in preparing Nhat Nguyen for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. He was later absorbed into the national coaching set-up and eventually promoted to performance coach. On Monday, Badminton Ireland confirmed that Seng Zoe will now assume the role of national singles coach, succeeding Iskandar. The governing body is hoping the 27-year-old can build on the foundations laid by Iskandar in strengthening their singles department. "Iskandar has been an incredible coach to work with. His passion for our purpose and values, coupled with the impressive results achieved by the players he coached, speaks volumes about his approach. "We wish him all the best as he takes up a new opportunity in Malaysia. "Yeoh Seng Zoe will take on a role alongside Iskandar in the national singles programme, and Badminton Ireland will review its coaching structure in the coming months," said Badminton Ireland in a statement. Last year was one of the best for Irish badminton, with two players, Nguyen and women's singles player Rachael Darragh qualified for the Paris Olympics. Nguyen's Olympic debut was particularly encouraging despite falling short in the group stage. Under Iskandar's guidance, Nguyen also won the Irish Open for two consecutive years, starting in 2023. Interestingly, Seng Zoe is not the only Malaysian contributing to Irish badminton. Mohd Izzuddin Shamsulmuzli, a former Nusa Mahsuri club player, is also serving in the set-up with a focus on junior development. Iskandar was recently roped in by the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) to fill the national women's singles coaching post, which had been left vacant for five months following the resignation of Jeffer Rosobin in late February.
![A look at the Sidek badminton dynasty - Ep60 [TIMESPORT PODCAST]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.nst.com.my%2Fimages%2Farticles%2Frasid1_1751353215.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
![A look at the Sidek badminton dynasty - Ep60 [TIMESPORT PODCAST]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.nst.com.my%2Fassets%2FNST-Logo%402x.png%3Fid%3Db37a17055cb1ffea01f5&w=48&q=75){kind=small}
New Straits Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
A look at the Sidek badminton dynasty - Ep60 [TIMESPORT PODCAST]
Datuk Rashid Sidek talks to Timesport: On the Beat on how it all began in Malaysia's most famous badminton-playing family. KUALA LUMPUR: The Sidek brothers are etched in badminton history for their unforgettable contribution to Malaysia's 1992 Thomas Cup triumph. The evergreen Datuk Rashid Sidek, in an interview with Timesport: On the Beat, credited his late father, Datuk Sidek Abdullah Kamar, for their heroics. At the 1992 Thomas Cup in Kuala Lumpur, Rashid was unbeatable in all his matches as the first singles while his brothers Razif, Jalani and Rahman were also part of the magnificent side that dethroned holders China 3-2 in the semi-finals and Indonesia 3-2 in the final to end Malaysia's 25-year-wait for the prestigious trophy. The others who joined forces with the Sidek brothers in that triumph were Foo Kok Keong, Kwan Yoke Meng, Cheah Soon Kit, Soo Beng Kiang, One Ewe Chye and Wong Ewee Mun. On how the Sidek dynasty started, Rashid recalled it all began at an open air court built by his father beside their house in Kampung Kanchong Darat, Banting. Sidek not just built, he also coached his sons in badminton. "We were so happy to win the Thomas Cup, we played for the country and also our family. The Thomas Cup was a gift for our late father, we play badminton all because of him," said the 57-year-old Rashid. "We were a badminton family where everything started from my father who coached us. He loved badminton a lot. "Actually, his main intention was not to make us international players, but for us to stay away from negative activities. So he wanted us to focus on badminton. "We didn't go anywhere and we played badminton in the afternoons everyday. It's a routine. "My father was very strict and he wanted all of us to be very disciplined. No jokes or just stroking around. "If you want to train, you train seriously. Because only one court was available and others were also waiting to play. My brothers and neighbours also played there. "It was really special for us. Misbun could have been there, but he retired early at 28 (in 1988)." After his Thomas Cup heroics in 1992, Rashid went on to win Malaysia's first ever men's singles Olympic medal, in 1996 in Atlanta where he defeated world champion Heryanto Arbi of Indonesia for the bronze. Rashid, who was world No. 1 in 1997, regarded winning the Olympic medal as his best individual feat. "The Olympic medal is definitely my highest achievement as an individual player," he said. In the 1990s, Rashid continued the family's legacy as a player for their own club, Nusa Mahsuri, the first recognised professional club in the country. "We had some issues with the BAM management in 1994 and we decided to form a professional club proposed by Jalani and we started Nusa Mahsuri in 1995," recalled Rashid. "Nusa Mahsuri is still operating where Misbun has continued to coach the junior players." After retiring in 2000, Rashid ventured into coaching and became a national coach between 2003 and 2015. Serving as Datuk Lee Chong Wei's coach is something Rashid recalls fondly as he was able to witness one of the best men's singles players of all time rise to the top. "Chong Wei's determination, fighting spirit and discipline is excellent. His attitude is like 'I want to win as many tournaments as I can. He was not easily satisfied. Winning two or three tournaments was not enough," said Rashid. The best memory and the most disappointing as Chong Wei's coach? Rashid pointed to the 2012 London Olympics where Chong Wei lost to his nemesis Lin Dan of China in a close fight for the gold. "My best memory is also the most disappointing. The best memory was witnessing Chong Wei getting silver in 2012 but it was disappointing to see him lose as he was leading in the final." Rashid had also guided Paralympian Cheah Liek Hou for a couple of years, with the latter winning his first gold at the 2021 Tokyo Paralympics where badminton was introduced as a medal sport.
New Straits Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
A look at the Sidek badminton dynasty
Datuk Rashid Sidek talks to Timesport: On the Beat on how it all began in Malaysia's most famous badminton-playing family. KUALA LUMPUR: The Sidek brothers are etched in badminton history for their unforgettable contribution to Malaysia's 1992 Thomas Cup triumph. The evergreen Datuk Rashid Sidek, in an interview with Timesport: On the Beat, credited his late father, Datuk Sidek Abdullah Kamar, for their heroics. At the 1992 Thomas Cup in Kuala Lumpur, Rashid was unbeatable in all his matches as the first singles while his brothers Razif, Jalani and Rahman were also part of the magnificent side that dethroned holders China 3-2 in the semi-finals and Indonesia 3-2 in the final to end Malaysia's 25-year-wait for the prestigious trophy. The others who joined forces with the Sidek brothers in that triumph were Foo Kok Keong, Kwan Yoke Meng, Cheah Soon Kit, Soo Beng Kiang, One Ewe Chye and Wong Ewee Mun. On how the Sidek dynasty started, Rashid recalled it all began at an open air court built by his father beside their house in Kampung Kanchong Darat, Banting. Sidek not just built, he also coached his sons in badminton. "We were so happy to win the Thomas Cup, we played for the country and also our family. The Thomas Cup was a gift for our late father, we play badminton all because of him," said the 57-year-old Rashid. "We were a badminton family where everything started from my father who coached us. He loved badminton a lot. "Actually, his main intention was not to make us international players, but for us to stay away from negative activities. So he wanted us to focus on badminton. "We didn't go anywhere and we played badminton in the afternoons everyday. It's a routine. "My father was very strict and he wanted all of us to be very disciplined. No jokes or just stroking around. "If you want to train, you train seriously. Because only one court was available and others were also waiting to play. My brothers and neighbours also played there. "It was really special for us. Misbun could have been there, but he retired early at 28 (in 1988)." After his Thomas Cup heroics in 1992, Rashid went on to win Malaysia's first ever men's singles Olympic medal, in 1996 in Atlanta where he defeated world champion Heryanto Arbi of Indonesia for the bronze. Rashid, who was world No. 1 in 1997, regarded winning the Olympic medal as his best individual feat. "The Olympic medal is definitely my highest achievement as an individual player," he said. In the 1990s, Rashid continued the family's legacy as a player for their own club, Nusa Mahsuri, the first recognised professional club in the country. "We had some issues with the BAM management in 1994 and we decided to form a professional club proposed by Jalani and we started Nusa Mahsuri in 1995," recalled Rashid. "Nusa Mahsuri is still operating where Misbun has continued to coach the junior players." After retiring in 2000, Rashid ventured into coaching and became a national coach between 2003 and 2015. Serving as Datuk Lee Chong Wei's coach is something Rashid recalls fondly as he was able to witness one of the best men's singles players of all time rise to the top. "Chong Wei's determination, fighting spirit and discipline is excellent. His attitude is like 'I want to win as many tournaments as I can. He was not easily satisfied. Winning two or three tournaments was not enough," said Rashid. The best memory and the most disappointing as Chong Wei's coach? Rashid pointed to the 2012 London Olympics where Chong Wei lost to his nemesis Lin Dan of China in a close fight for the gold. "My best memory is also the most disappointing. The best memory was witnessing Chong Wei getting silver in 2012 but it was disappointing to see him lose as he was leading in the final." Rashid had also guided Paralympian Cheah Liek Hou for a couple of years, with the latter winning his first gold at the 2021 Tokyo Paralympics where badminton was introduced as a medal sport.
