PETALING JAYA: Relax and stay focused on the task at hand.
This is the advice given by psychologist Frederick Tan (pic) to the national shuttlers ahead of the European tourneys next month.
Frederick was brought in by the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) to assist the players in the Road to Gold (RTG) programme ahead of the Paris Olympics in July.
He started work at the Academy Badminton Malaysia (ABM) on Monday.
The national shuttlers in the RTG, who will be competing in the back-to-back French Open (March 5-10) in Paris and All-England (March 12-17) in Birmingham, are Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik (men’s doubles), Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah (women’s doubles) and Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei (mixed doubles).
Tang Jie-Ee Wei will also be in action in the Swiss Open from March 19-24 in Basel.
“I had a meeting with the players on Monday where we talked for about 45 minutes,” said Frederick.
“It was mainly to get to know them a bit. I will be meeting them again one by one before they leave for Europe.
“I will not be following them to the tournaments this time as I have some personal matters to settle first.
“But I will be with them for their next competitions.
“I can see that they are well motivated by the coaches. The coaches have done a good job and have prepared them well.
“I told them to relax and stay focused on their game. Don’t think about winning but go for your best performance,” added Frederick, who had worked with former great Datuk Lee Chong Wei when the latter won a silver in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
The former is now looking to help the current players as best as he can ahead of the Paris showpiece.
“Five months is a very short time and I cannot be performing magic,” said Frederick.
“I’m here to do my level best to provide the players with the best environment in which to prepare before the Olympics.
“It’s important for the players to open up about whatever issues they are facing, so that it will be easier for me to help them.”
