PETALING JAYA: Badminton England’s new performance programme vision is a fresh approach to their coaching structure, but only time will tell if it bears fruit with former men’s doubles shuttler Koo Kien Keat (pic) in the mix for a month.
Former great Datuk James Selvaraj sees England’s approach as something that could be beneficial for other countries to follow if things work out the way as planned.
“It is something new, I don’t think any country has tried what they are doing.
“We will see what Kien Keat can do there, he brings with him the experience of playing high-level tournaments and has the wins to prove it. So we will see,” he said.
Kien Keat’s arrival in England comes following the appointment of former women’s doubles shuttler Christina Pedersen from Denmark, who will also be providing specialist coaching expertise to England’s badminton programme.
Badminton England are in the process of recruiting six new personnel under their new programme, which includes senior and junior head coaches and senior singles and doubles coaches.
Kien Keat is expected to boost the hosts’ charge at the All-England from March 11-16 in Birmingham, guiding world No. 13 Ben Lane-Sean Vendy with doubles coach Nathan Robertson.
The 39-year-old Kien Keat won the All-England with partner Tan Boon Heong at the 2007 edition.
Only Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik came close to retaking the men’s doubles title but ended as runners-up in 2019 and 2024.
Badminton England shared the arrival of two-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist Kien Keat on Friday, who will join the elite performance programme as a guest coach over the next four weeks.
“We’d like to formally welcome the former All-England winner and look forward to seeing him work in close collaboration with Nathan Robertson and all our athletes throughout the month of March,” they stated.
Kien Keat has had some coaching experience, having been a coach at Thailand’s professional badminton club Granular in 2014.
