PETALING JAYA: It is a tough call for Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin as he weighs between continuing his coaching career in Ireland or answering the call to return home.
The former national men’s singles shuttler has confirmed that the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) have reached out to him with a coaching offer. But it’s still unclear whether the role is for the men’s or women’s singles squad.
BAM are currently short of options in the singles department following the surprise resignation of women’s singles coach Jeffer Rosobin at the end of April.
Since taking up the role in Ireland four years ago, Iskandar has steadily made a name for himself in Europe. He has been instrumental in the rise of Nhat Nguyen, who is now ranked No. 33 in the world, and has helped elevate the profile of Irish badminton.
Under his guidance, Ireland qualified two players for the Paris Olympics, namely Nguyen and women’s singles shuttler Rachael Darragh, marking a major milestone for the country.
Adding to the Malaysian presence in Ireland is Iskandar’s former national teammate Yeoh Seng Zoe, who is currently serving as Ireland’s high performance coach.
Given the progress made and his long-term plans with Ireland, Iskandar is understandably cautious about making any move.
“I’ve been given a lot of trust here in Ireland, and I need to deliver results,” said the 33-year-old.
“I’ve been contacted by BAM, but I need to weigh everything carefully. I’m still young in coaching and want to prove myself first.
“I was fortunate to be guided by coaches like Datuk Misbun Sidek and Hendrawan, and I incorporate what I’ve learned from them into my own methods.
“My immediate goal is to help Ireland win a medal at the European Championships. We’re also running development programmes in schools, and I hope this will unearth more talent for the country.”
Iskandar first joined Ireland as a sparring partner for Nguyen during his preparations for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. He was later appointed as Nguyen’s full-time coach and eventually took over the entire singles programme.
Nguyen came close to realising Iskandar’s dream of winning a European medal this year, reaching the quarter-finals in Horsens, Denmark, before losing to France’s Alex Lanier.
Nguyen’s campaign at the Malaysian Masters ended yesterday in the second round following a 23-21, 21-17 defeat to India’s K. Srikanth. In the opening round, he had stunned home favourite Leong Jun Hao.
