Bin Shen’s back

Joining forces: Tan Bin Shen and Hoon Thien How (inset) have the qualities to be good coaches.

PETALING JAYA: Former national shuttler Tan Bin Shen has been handed a golden opportunity to learn the ropes from current men’s doubles head coach Flandi Limpele.

The 36-year-old will be joining the coaching team at the Academy Badminton Malaysia (ABM) in Bukit Kiara and will report for duty today.

Bin Shen partnered Ong Soon Hock to finish runners-up in the boys’ doubles in the 2002 World Junior Championships in South Africa.

He also won the Australian Open 2009 and sealed a runners-up finish at the Malaysia Masters 2009 during his playing career.

The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) yesterday also announced that another former national shuttler Hoon Thien How will join forces with his former men’s doubles partner Chan Chong Ming in the women’s doubles department.

Vacancies were available after BAM announced recently that former internationals Wong Pei Tty, Chin Eei Hui and Rosman Razak were dropped from the coaching set-up.

Director of coaching Wong Choong Hann said Bin Shen will help complement the coaching team.

“Flandi has his expertise but we also believe that communication channel is equally important so that the knowledge could be transferred to the players, ” said Choong Hann.

“Bin Shen has good communication skills and I believe they will complement each other.

“He is coming in earlier in order to get acclimatised with the squad as our team will be leaving for the Asian leg of the HSBC World Tour in Thailand next month.

“Thien How has the quality in terms of sparring and familiarity with the department as he started his coaching career there.”