Pillar of support: K. Yogendran with his wife K. Sugita. — Yogendran’s Facebook
PETALING JAYA: Deepavali carries a more personal meaning for national men’s singles coach K. Yogendran as it is one of the few times he gets to slow down and enjoy precious moments with his family after a packed tournament schedule.
This time, Yogendran only has a single day to celebrate the Festival of Lights with his loved ones, but he plans to treasure every moment of it.
He had just completed his duties at the Malaysia Super 100 in Iskandar Puteri, Johor, and will soon return to the Academy Badminton Malaysia (ABM) in Bukit Kiara to prepare for the upcoming Korean Masters, Kumamoto Masters and Australian Open in November.
Like many others, Yogendran looks forward to the festive spread, especially his mother’s signature “Ayam Palembang” (soy sauce fried chicken) dish.
“My favourite is my mother’s fried chicken, which we call ‘Ayam Palembang’. It’s cooked with soy sauce and everyone loves it, even coach Rexy Mainaky,” said Yogendran with a laugh.
“Every year, my friends will ask, ‘Is your mother cooking that again?’ because it’s the top dish at our house. Unfortunately, this time coach Kenneth Jonassen won’t get to try it as he’s in Europe.”
The 43-year-old Yogendran admitted it has been ages since he last celebrated Deepavali.
“When I first joined BAM as a player, we never really celebrated it because we were always away for tournaments but after returning to the national setup in 2021, it’s been different. There’s really no Deepavali for us any more,” he said.
Despite his busy schedule, Yogendran is grateful to his wife, K. Sugita, for her understanding and support.
He hopes that this year’s Deepavali celebration will strengthen their family bond.
“What’s most important about Deepavali is that it brings the whole family together,” said Yogendran.
“It’s the one day when everyone is home.
“We share a meal, catch up, light a few fireworks, and just enjoy the day together.
“That’s what makes it special.”
