Request to have Cheh Chang as men’s doubles coach shot down

KUALA LUMPUR: The top players’ request to have Pang Cheh Chang as one of the coaches in the men’s doubles department has been shot down.

The men’s doubles department is looking for a coach to replace Rosman Razak, who has been promoted to women’s doubles head coach.

The men’s doubles head coach is Cheah Soon Kit and he is assisted by Vountus Indra Mawan.

The top four pairs are Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong, Teo Ee Yi-Ong Yew Sin, Low Juan Shen-Chooi Kah Ming and Nur Izzuddin Rumsani-Goh Sze Fei.

Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) president Datuk Seri Norza Zakaria said they had narrowed down their search to two candidates – one foreigner and one local.

“I didn’t want Cheh Chang to be moved out of the mixed doubles. So far, the department has been the pillar for us and they are doing just fine,” said Norza.

Cheh Chang is an assistant to head coach Chin Ee Hui and currently, the department has three reliable pairs – Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie, Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing and Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying.

“We’ll decide on the men’s doubles coach by end of this week. It’s important that we finalise all this as we’re serious about our preparation for the Thomas Cup Finals,” he said.

The Finals will be in Bangkok, Thailand, from May 20-27.

It is learnt that former international Lee Wan Wah, Chang Kim Wai and former coach Firman Paulus were the candidates to fill the vacant spot left by Rosman but Wan Wah’s interest has waned.

Meanwhile, Norza said they had met up with former international Tan Boon Heong and offered him a place in BAM but it was in his hands to decide.

“He is being sponsored by Yonex and the national body is under Victor. I’ve asked him to put the nation’s interest first ahead of the Thomas Cup Finals,” added Norza.