Petaling Jaya, December 22, 2024 – The Europe Today: It’s strictly professional, says Wong Choong Hann. The Hong Kong badminton supremo has successfully recruited home-grown Malaysian coaches Tan Bin Shen, Jeremy Gan, and Loh Wei Sheng to form the largest group of coaches in a national setup abroad. However, Choong Hann insists that his decisions are solely driven by professional considerations.
The transfer of former Malaysian internationals has sparked mixed reactions. While some express concerns over the exodus of Malaysian coaches abroad, others applaud the move, citing it as a testament to the high demand for Malaysian expertise.
“Both Bin Shen and Jeremy are triple majors’ medalist coaches over two Olympic Games cycles. Why wouldn’t I include them in my setup?” said Choong Hann. “It’s about doing your best at your job and keeping things professional. There is no intent to complicate matters. I prefer to let the results speak louder than words. I’ve always believed in that.”
Under Bin Shen’s guidance, Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik secured world titles and Olympic bronze medals at the Tokyo and Paris Olympic Games. Meanwhile, Jeremy’s contributions as a mixed doubles coach helped Yuta Watanabe and Arisa Higashino clinch bronze medals in both Olympic editions and silvers in two world championships. Wei Sheng, formerly coaching in Singapore, joined Hong Kong’s setup after accepting an offer from Choong Hann.
“We merely put the offer on the table. It’s up to these coaches to decide based on their personal commitments and needs. I’m glad they chose to join us,” said Choong Hann.
Despite the promising lineup, Choong Hann remains realistic. “Hong Kong still has a relatively medium-sized squad compared to other major badminton powerhouses. Our coaches often multitask across departments despite having specific roles. They need time to settle down, but we are committed to helping them realize their full potential.”
Bin Shen and Jeremy will focus on the doubles department, with the former prioritizing men’s doubles and the latter mixed doubles. Wei Sheng will oversee men’s singles initially, with plans for him to take full charge in the future
