Former doubles champs Chong Ming and Flandi join Malaysia as new badminton heads

PETALING JAYA: Former national top doubles player Chan Chong Ming (pic) and Indonesia's doubles champ Flandi Limpele have been hired to beef up Malaysia's badminton coaching set up as new heads were named.

The two-time World Championships bronze medallist (2001 and 2005), Chong Ming will head the women's doubles department, taking over the mantle from Rosman Razak.

Chong Ming formed the national No. 1 partnership with Chew Choon Eng and together they also won the 2006 Malaysian Open men's doubles title.

Flandi, who won the Olympic Games bronze medal with Eng Hian at the 2004 Athens Games, will be in charge of the men's doubles department.

He has taken over the post from another Indonesian Paulus Firman.

Paulus has been moved to head the mixed doubles department, taking over from former women's doubles player Chin Eei Hui.

Indra Widjaja, who was assisting Hendrawan in the men's singles department, has been promoted to head the women's singles department in place of Datuk Tey Seu Bock.

Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) president Datuk Seri Norza Zakaria said: "It's my hope that the changes will further rejuvenate the national team and motivate the players to utilise the extended time frame to prepare for the Thomas-Uber Cup Finals (Oct 3-11) and next year's Olympic Games."

THE NEW COACHING SET UP

Coaching director: Wong Choong Hann

Men's singles: Hendrawan (head coach), Datuk Tey Seu Bock

Men's doubles: Flandi Limpele (head coach), Rosman Razak, Hoon Thien How

Women's singles: Indra Widjaja (head coach), Loh Wei Sheng

Women's doubles: Chan Chong Ming, Chin Eei Hui, Wong Pei Tty

Mixed doubles: Paulus Firman (head coach), Teo Kok Siang

Badminton, Malaysia, Coaching