KUALA LUMPUR – Akademi Badminton Malaysia (ABM) will be expanding their search for younger talents soon, said doubles coaching director Rexy Mainaky.
He added, scouting for new talents should not only be limited to the yearly talent identification programme but must also be done proactively regularly.
As such, he said by appointing Pang Cheh Chang as the head coach overlooking the junior doubles, they could go down to the ground more often to scout for younger talents.
“I have discussed this with ABM chief executive officer Michelle Chai that we will be on the lookout for special talents at local tournaments.
“We cannot just sit and wait for the yearly talent identification to find new youngsters to join the national team,” Rexy said when met at ABM in Bukit Kiara, here today.
The former Indonesian Olympic champion, who is also in charge of the junior doubles department, explained that he is streamlining the training programme for both the junior and senior teams.
He said by having the seniors and juniors training together, would help to improve the juniors’ consistency and eventually make it easier for them to identify potential players to be promoted to the senior team.
Following ABM’s recent departure of junior coaches – Kwan Yoke Meng, Hafiz Hashim, and Vountus Indra Mawan – Rexy also said it would not be ABM’s priority to find new hires.
“We want to maintain the status quo. Our focus, for now, is not to find new coaches, but we are open to those coaches who are available to join us.
“Instead, the plan is to have junior doubles coach Poh Chai Boon assisting men’s doubles coach Tan Bin Shen, while Lutfi Zaim Abdul Khalid will assist mixed doubles coach Nova Widianto.” – The Vibes, February 28, 2023
