Latest news with #WoonKheWei
The Star
13 hours ago
- Sport
- The Star
Khe Wei aims to play a part in producing champions through her academy
Big ambitions: Woon Khe Wei giving a speech during the opening ceremony of her academy. — YAP CHEE HONG/The Star PUCHONG: Former shuttler Woon Khe Wei hopes to produce Malaysia's next Olympic medallists through her badminton academy, Medalist International Sports Centre. Khe Wei, who didn't manage to win a medal in the Olympics herself when she and Vivian Hoo were Malaysia's top women's doubles pair, now wants to help develop youngsters to achieve what every shuttler dreams of in badminton's grandest stage. To realise this vision, the 36-year-old wants to provide top-notch facilities for players in her academy like those at the Academy Badminton Malaysia (ABM) in Bukit Kiara and National Sports Institute (NSI) in Bukit Jalil. 'I started my academy to train youngsters to win an Olympic medal because I missed the chance to do so with Vivian,' said Khe Wei at the opening ceremony of her academy in Puchong yesterday. 'I named my academy Medalist Sports Centre because I want to train players to win medals for Malaysia. 'I also want to have a proper academy which has strength and conditioning class, physiotherapy and sports massage in the future like in NSI.' The idea to open an academy first came to Khe Wei in 2019 after she retired from the sport. At first, she conducted her classes in rented training facilities before a friend urged her to have her own academy. Her academy has already been up and running since February. 'My initial plan was to just train players but then one of my friends suggested to me to have my own sports centre,' said Khe Wei. 'In the future, I'm also exploring the idea of sending the players in my academy overseas for training sometimes,' added Khe Wei.'
New Straits Times
a day ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Ex-national players support BAM's plan to go back to the old way
KUALA LUMPUR: Former international Woon Khe Wei is all for BAM's move to revert to its old junior programme, which players begin at age 13. She said this will provide players with a strong foundation to become quality internationals. Khe Wei herself was a product of BAM's earlier system, where players were recruited at age 13 from the states. BAM stopped this system in 2023 and opted instead for a shorter age group of 16–18. However, this development programme came into question after Malaysia failed to have any representative in the quarter-finals of the boys' singles, boys' doubles and girls' singles events at last month's Asian Junior Championships in Solo, Indonesia. This has led to BAM reverting to the old system. "It's always best to start the shuttlers younger, possibly at 13, like what BAM used to do. They will then get a five-year period to build a strong foundation," said Khe Wei. "Getting them in early is also important to correct their basic flaws and strengthen them physically. Full-time centralised training will help them become more focused and disciplined, and it's also easier to mould them into goal-oriented players. "It's difficult to change playing styles and start building physical conditioning at 16. By that age, they should already be doing well in international junior events," said Khe Wei who was the 2007 Asian Junior mixed doubles champion with Tan Wee Kiong. Tan Boon Heong, who won the 2006 Asian Games gold with Koo Kien Keat at the age of 19, said lowering the national junior entry age has its benefits, but emphasized that senior-level success is what truly counts. "It's good if players join early, but from my experience, age wasn't the crucial factor. I joined BAM at 15 (in 2002) and still managed to win titles," said Boon Heong, who claimed the 2004 world junior title with Hoon Thien How. "But generally, it's better to start at 13. There's a better chance to improve faster and win medals at Asian and World Junior levels. "That said, being a junior champion doesn't mean anything if you don't succeed at senior level, like the World Championships or Olympics.
The Sun
a day ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Khe Wei backs Pearly-Thinaah for medal at 2025 World Badminton Championships
FORMER national women's doubles player, Woon Khe Wei is confident that the Pearly Tan-M Thinaah pair will be able to create great success by bringing home a medal from the 2025 World Badminton Championships to be held in Paris, France from August 25 to 31. According to Khe Wei, this confidence comes after the pair, currently ranked second in the world, managed to display consistent performances in every tournament they participated in this year. 'This year their performance is really good and quite consistent. Their style of playing is impressive and convincing. 'So hopefully they can get Malaysia's first medal in the women's doubles event,' she said after opening her badminton academy here today. Meanwhile, Khe Wei also reminded the national pair not to be overconfident with the opponents they will face after receiving an easy draw at the world championships. However, she believed the national pair was prepared both mentally and physically to bring home a medal for Malaysia. Earlier at the draw ceremony held on Wednesday, Pearly-Thinaah received an easy draw when they faced no problems advancing to the semi-finals. The second seeds received a bye in the first round and are expected to face the world's 14th ranked pair from Indonesia, Lanny Tria Mayasari-Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti in the quarter-finals with a record of meetings in favour of the national pair. - Bernama
Barnama
a day ago
- Sport
- Barnama
Khe Wei Confident Pearly-Thinaah Can Bring Home Medal From World Championship
PUCHONG, Aug 17 (Bernama) -- Former national women's doubles player, Woon Khe Wei is confident that the Pearly Tan-M Thinaah pair will be able to create great success by bringing home a medal from the 2025 World Badminton Championships to be held in Paris, France from August 25 to 31. According to Khe Wei, this confidence comes after the pair, currently ranked second in the world, managed to display consistent performances in every tournament they participated in this year. 'This year their performance is really good and quite consistent. Their style of playing is impressive and convincing.
