PETALING JAYA: The Malaysia Super 100 tournament starting on Tuesday in Iskandar Puteri, Johor, will mark the first assignment for national women’s singles coach Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin.
However, national singles coaching director Kenneth Jonassen is not putting too much pressure on the 34-year-old, acknowledging that there is only so much that can be done in the short 10-day period since he took charge of the women’s singles squad at the Academy Badminton Malaysia (ABM).
One of the key things Jonassen hopes to observe is how Iskandar communicates with his players, especially during crucial moments in actual matches.
Based on Jonassen’s observations, he believes there have already been some positive signs despite the short time in charge.
“I think the most important thing for him, as a new coach with a new group of players, is to establish a common language and understanding.
“This will be the first time he experiences that in a competition setting. Training is one thing, but competition is totally different. He will also get to know the girls much better mentally after this week.
“It’s about learning, and the feedback he receives from the players and the discussions he has afterwards will shape the ongoing process with each player individually. He already has a good plan on how to develop the squad and move them forward. But at tournaments, you learn both about the team and about each player individually,” said Jonassen.
Next week in Iskandar Puteri, only three of Iskandar’s charges will be in action – Siti Zulaikha Azmi, Wong Ling Ching and Shahidi Shaneesa.
Siti will face her compatriot S. Kisona in the first round, while Ling Ching will take on Indonesia’s Deswanti Nurtertiati.
Shahidi, meanwhile, will start in the qualifying round against China’s Dai Qinyi.
Also competing in the tournament are Goh Jin Wei, who will meet China’s Cai Yanyan, and Tan Shen Ting, who will face Korea’s Lee So-yul in the qualifying round.
