Been there, done that – Tan brings wealth of experience to BAM

Boys, lend me your ears: Tan Bin Shen (right) with head coach Flandi Limpele at the ABM yesterday. — Pic courtesy of HoW Kim Tho

PETALING JAYA: Newly appointed men’s doubles coach Tan Bin Shen is happy to be back “home” after 11 years.

Former international Bin Shen has been appointed as the assistant to head coach Flandi Limpele in the Badminton Association of Malaysia’s (BAM) set-up and officially started his job at the Academy Badminton Malaysia (ABM) in Bukit Kiara yesterday.

“I left when I was 25 and now, I am 36 but it’s good to be back, ” said Bin Shen.

Although Bin Shen has not won any major titles with his former partners Ong Soon Hock and then Gan Teik Chai during his playing days, he has returned to the BAM loaded with experience.

Over the last decade, he had played as a professional, battled in a league and coached juniors.

He had played with Teik Chai under the KLRC professional stable before joining the Berlin club in Germany. In Germany, he played in the doubles with Robert Blair of England and their team, which also included Denmark’s Kenneth Jonassen, eventually won the league that year.

Bin Shen then returned home to join the Pioneer Badminton, which is jointly run by Wong Choong Hann, Lee Wan Wah, Chan Chong Ming and Chew Choon Eng, and had managed one of the centres, Tropicana in Sungai Buloh.

“All those experiences after my stint in BAM had enriched me. As a professional, I learnt how to be independent. I expanded my horizons when I played in the league and by mixing with the foreign players.

“As a coach with the academy, I picked up new ideas.”

Bin Shen is looking forward to working alongside Flandi and bringing his experience to the table.

“I was about 18 when I played against Flandi.

“He played for England then. I’ve never beaten him in a game. I respect him and I’m quite excited that I’ll get to work with him this time, ” he said.

“I hope to transfer my knowledge to the players in the team, many are young... I hope to inspire them.

“I hope to impart my skills and groom our players into world beaters.”

Bin Shen said he is grateful to Choong Hann and the BAM for the opportunity to serve the nation again.

“Choong Hann invited me to join the national team and I’m glad the BAM have approved it... I’ll do my best to repay their faith, ” he added.

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 2009 Australian Open with Teik Chai and sealed a runners-up finish at the 2009 Malaysia Masters during his playing career.

The only setback for Bin Shen during his playing career was when he and Teik Chai were dropped for the 2013 World Championships although they had qualified on merit as independent players.