PETALING JAYA: Former men’s doubles shuttler Lim Khim Wah may be best known for his exploits on the badminton court, but he has taken a different path since retiring, choosing not to stay in badminton and instead opening a snooker training centre.
Khim Wah, who retired in 2023, now runs The J Trick Snooker and Cafe in Klang, Selangor, which has been operating since August.
It was a bold and risky move, but he prepared thoroughly, conducting detailed market research before venturing into the new field.
“I’ve long been interested in snooker,” he explained.
“After researching the snooker scene in Malaysia, I decided to realise my ambition of opening the centre in August.”
He has also successfully organised an invitational tournament that attracted 128 local and international players.
Interestingly, Malaysia’s elite snooker players, including Lim Kok Leong, Thor Chuan Leong and Moh Keen Ho, who recently won gold at the Thailand SEA Games, have also played at Khim Wah’s snooker centre.
“Many people do not know this, but although my career was in badminton, snooker has always been my hobby, to the point where I also competed in tournaments.
“The idea to open a snooker centre came after I retired. I found that it could be a profitable business even though it is sports-based.
“It has been a new experience because the tournament I organised also attracted national players. I even invited players from Singapore, Thailand and Pakistan,” he added.
Khim Wah also hopes to break the stigma that former badminton players must stay in badminton after retiring, stressing that there are many other paths to pursue.
During his playing days, Khim Wah formed a formidable partnership with Goh V Shem and was part of the Malaysian Thomas Cup squad that won silver in New Delhi in 2014.
“I am not afraid because in business, you have to be brave enough to try. You never know if it will work, but you have to take the first step.
“That is why I did my research and found that snooker is very popular now.
“Many people are surprised that a former badminton player like me has ventured into opening a snooker centre, especially since there are badminton courts behind my centre and many former players have asked me about it.
“I was involved in badminton for 25 years, and now I no longer touch it because my focus is on my snooker business.
“I think in the past, people associated snooker with school students skipping classes, but now I want to change that perception.
“There are no more students playing truant here. Instead, it is a healthier environment, with people coming after work to take part in a positive activity,” he added.
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