Experienced and respected Eei Hui a suitable candidate to replace Paulus

PETALING JAYA: Former mixed doubles coach Chin Eei Hui appears to be the prime candidate to fill in the void left by Indonesian Paulus Firman.

National doubles coaching director Rexy Mainaky said he has been asked by the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) coaching and training committee chairman Datuk Kenny Goh to start identifying candidates to replace Paulus, whose contract expires on April 30.

Although a final decision is only expected after the Thomas and Uber Cup Finals in Bangkok from May 8-15, Rexy indicated that Eei Hui was well respected by the national players and had the experience guiding national women’s doubles and mixed doubles pairs in the past.

“Paulus has made it clear that he will not renew his contract. His mother is 80 and he wants to look after her back home in Bandung and we have to respect his decision,” said Rexy.

“Eei Hui is a good coach. She has top-level experience as a player and also did well with the national team, not only as a mixed doubles coach but also with the women’s doubles. She had also been assisting the men’s independent doubles pairs.

“The players also like her and I am keen to talk to her once the Asian Championships (from April 26-May 1) and the Thomas Cup campaign is over. I don’t want this issue to cloud my mind for now.”

Eei Hui turned professional as a coach in January last year and had initially guided Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying, Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong and Teo Ee Yi-Ong Yew Sin before they were joined by other mixed doubles pairs Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie and recent Korean Open champions Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing.

The independent set-up has been growing due to the results shown by these pairs.

Eei Hui proved her credentials by guiding Peng Soon-Liu Ying to the mixed doubles silver medal in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. The effort saw Eei Hui being named 2016 coach of the year.

Kian Men-Pei Jing had also paid tribute to Eei Hui for helping them establish themselves as a top class pair.

Her seven-year coaching stint with the BAM ended on Dec 31, 2020 where Paulus took over.

As a player, Eei Hui had considerable success with Wong Pei Tty as they were ranked world No. 1 in the women’s doubles in 2009 and qualified for two Olympics (2004 and 2008). They were winners of the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games and were twice BWF World Super Series title winners.

In the mixed doubles, Eei Hui had won the 2010 New Delhi Commonwealth Games gold with Koo Kien Keat and they were among the top five pairs in their prime.