Pek Siah starts cracking the whip as BAM coach

Pek Siah (centre, in red) getting acquainted with her new charges at the Stadium Juara in Bukit Kiara. - RAYMOND OOI / The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: Small she may be, at just 154cm tall, but former international Lim Pek Siah’s ready to prove that she’s one tough cookie.

The 36-year-old is all set to crack the whip as the new national women’s doubles coach.

She certainly has the credentials, having won the 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games gold medal with Ang Li Peng.

Pek Siah reported for duty at Stadium Juara in Bukit Kiara on Friday and is all excited about her new appointment.

“It’s been 13 years since I left BAM (Badminton Association of Malaysia). Then, I was a player ... now, I’m back as a coach,” said Pek Siah, who feels that the current batch of players lacked speed, power and fitness.

“I took part in the Japan League in 2009. I was there for six months and I also held coaching clinics. The training there is way tougher.

“Our players lack fitness. This will be one of the main areas that we have to improve on.

“Our top two pairs - Vivian Hoo-Woon Khe Wei and Amelia Anscelly-Soong Fie Cho – also need to step up their game and start achieving breakthroughs.”

Pek Siah will work together with Wong Pei Tty under the leadership of BAM technical director Morten Frost.

The other women shuttlers in the team are Lim Yin Loo-Lee Meng Yean, Yap Cheng Wen, Joyce Choong, Cheah Yee See, Goh Yea Ching, Chin Kah Mun and Zap Chen.