23-04-2025
Jonassen, Wei Feng catch up in Ipoh amid BAM vacancy buzz
KUALA LUMPUR: A meeting between national singles coaching director Kenneth Jonassen and ex-national shuttler Chong Wei Feng in Ipoh has fuelled speculation that the latter could return to the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) as a coach.
Jonassen and his assistant K. Yogendran were in town to monitor junior shuttlers at the ongoing National Under-18 Championships. Wei Feng is there guiding four of his players from his Klang Valley-based academies.
Their casual chat was later highlighted on the Shuttle Flash Badminton Academy's Instagram page, sparking talk of a possible return for Wei Feng, who won the men's singles gold at the 2015 Singapore Sea Games.
However, Jonassen played down the buzz.
"I'm in Ipoh to observe the early rounds, and I caught up with Wei Feng. No, we didn't talk about the women's singles coaching vacancy," said Jonassen.
"It was just a friendly catch-up. As for the coaching role, we're not rushing. We'll wait for the right candidate."
Wei Feng told Timsport on April 7 that BAM had reached out with a coaching offer.
But on Wednesday, he echoed Jonassen's remarks, stressing that their conversation was informal.
"I've known Jonassen since my playing days and hadn't seen him since he arrived in January. We chatted during my players' training session, nothing about a job offer," said Wei Feng.
"We spoke in general about the juniors, how many lack self-belief and struggle with pressure, which affects their results. But it wasn't anything official.
"I can't commit to a coaching job right now. I am guiding several players full-time."
Jonassen's patience in filling the position could work in Wei Feng's favour. It gives him time to identify suitable coaches to take over at the Chong Wei Feng and Shuttle Flash academies.
His four players — Chee Hong Wei, Chua Yi Xuan, Kee Is Qian, and Liew Zheng Hao — are competing in the boys' singles at the Under-18 event.
Jonassen and Yogendran will leave for Xiamen, China, on Thursday with the national shuttlers for the Sudirman Cup, which starts on Sunday.
