Have no regrets with career, says Rashid

KUALA LUMPUR: National singles chief coach Rashid Sidek was all smiles when his charges celebrated his 45th birthday yesterday after a hard day’s work at Stadium Juara in Bukit Kiara. 

Rashid has many wishes, but the most important is that charges do not have any regrets later on in their lives.

“When I look back at my life, I have one little regret. As a player, I did not win the biggies – I missed out on the World Championships title and the Olympic gold when I was the top player in my era,” said Rashid.
 
“I wish I had taken my chances well but I did not. I will always carry this disappointment of missing the big ones.”
 
Rashid ended his career as a player in 2000. In 2003, he joined the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) as a coach. And for his contribution to the sport, he was named as the National Sports Council’s (NSC) Coach of the Year.
 
“These players are like my children. The window of opportunity is short for a player and I hope all of them will make the best use of it. They must not have any regrets after they retire.
 
“Fortunately, I have a bronze medal to show from the 1996 Atlanta Games and the Thomas Cup title (in 1992). Right now, some of our players do not even have a major Open title but I hope they will be motivated enough to make their careers better.”

Except for world No. 1 and two-time Olympic Games silver medallist Lee Chong Wei, no other players under Rashid’s charge have gone to win a major title.

Rashid now hopes that his charges will fulfil his mission – to win the men’s singles title at the World Championships in Guangzhou from Aug 5-11. Chong Wei and two others – Liew Daren and Chong Wei Feng – have qualified for the world meet.
 
“Of course, Chong Wei is our best bet and I hope he will realise my dream by winning the country’s first world title. I have been a coach for the last 10 years and I have never seen a player as committed and determined as Chong Wei. I truly hope that this will be his year,” said Rashid.
 
On French Open champion Daren and Wei Feng, Rashid said: “I am happy with their positive attitude in training over the past few days. Chong Wei has been giving them a lot of pep talk. Daren is looking very motivated.”
 
Malaysia came close to winning the world title twice – in 2003 and 2011. In 2003, Wong Choong Hann went down fighting to Xia Xuanze of China in the final. Then in 2011, Chong Wei missed the title by a whisker after losing to his nemesis Lin Dan of China in the final.