KUALA LUMPUR – It is all systems go for national doubles coaching director Rexy Mainaky to hire a new mixed doubles coach.
Speaking to the media yesterday, Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) president Tan Sri Norza Zakaria gives the former Olympic champion total discretion on who he decides to bring in to fill in the position that was left vacant for four months since Paulus Firman left the national setup.
“We have communicated to Rexy that we have given a greenlight for him to get the (new) mixed doubles coach as soon as possible.
“He can have whichever candidate that he thinks is most suitable.
“At our level, we do not interfere in Rexy’s appointment, and there is a budget allocated for that,” Norza said.
He spoke to the press after presenting incentives worth RM245,000 to players and coaches who contributed to the success of the Hanoi SEA Games and Birmingham Commonwealth Games, at the Malaysian Badminton Academy in Bukit Kiara, yesterday.
Paulus left the national body on May 1 after deciding not to renew his contract to spend more time with his family in Indonesia.
He was the latest coach to leave BAM after women’s doubles coach Chan Cong Ming quit in December, followed by women’s singles coach Indra Wijaya who left in January to become independent shuttler Lee Zii Jia’s full-time coach.
Then, Flandy Limpele left the men’s doubles department to join the Indonesia Badminton Association after he decided not to extend his contract beyond April 1.
With his departure, Teo Kok Siang has been spearheading the mixed doubles department. – The Vibes, August 14, 2022
