Ex-doubles player Joanne is BAM’s new development manager

Filepic of Joanne Quay in 2007

KUALA LUMPUR: Former woman doubles shuttler Joanne Quay is back with the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) after 10 years but not as a player.

On Monday, the 34-year-old Joanne started her first day as BAM’s national development manager. She will oversee the junior programme at Bukit Jalil Sports School and mobilise the national back-up and state development programmes.

Joanne, who won the mixed doubles world junior title and Hong Kong Open with Chan Chong Ming in 1998, is excited to be back.

“I left BAM many years ago but my heart has always been with the national team. I am glad that I can come back and contribute on a different capacity,” said Joanne, who was also in the team that won the 1998 Commonwealth Games gold medal in Kuala Lumpur.

Joanne left BAM in 2004 and joined the Kuala Lumpur Racquet Club (KLRC) before calling it quits after the 2007 World Championships in Kuala Lumpur with Lim Pek Siah.

She went to England to pursue her studies and obtained a degree in Sports Business Management. After graduating last year, she joined the Badminton World Federation (BWF) as a development officer.

“Although it is a big task, I hope to play my part in putting the processes right to unearth new talents.”

She is also eager to work with BAM’s new technical director, Denmark’s Morten Frost Hansen. Frost will start work in March and will oversee the elite and development programmes.

“I was a player when Frost was here in Malaysia (from 1997-2000 as the national coaching director). He came out with plans to get a few mixed doubles pairs to qualify for the 2000 Olympic Games.”