PETALING JAYA: Former women’s singles shuttler Ho Yen Mei had a solid reason for turning down coaching offers from abroad – she wants to focus on nurturing the next generation of Malaysian shuttlers.
Yen Mei, who retired in 2023, is now a coach at the Kuala Lumpur Badminton Association (KLBA), dedicating her efforts to grassroots talent development.
She believes building a strong foundation as a coach is crucial for long-term success and has no regrets about passing up opportunities overseas.
In the past, she received offers from clubs in Italy, Germany, Switzerland, China and Singapore, but Yen Mei is determined to contribute to Malaysia’s badminton future at home.
Moreover, KLBA have also become closely associated with her, as it was the first institution to spot her talent when she was still a child. She sees coaching here as a way to give back to the association after her retirement.
“Of course I’m interested (coaching abroad). But before anything, I need to understand the structure of the situation to see if we can align. I think that’s the most important thing, whether we can work together intelligently. If there’s a clash, it will be very difficult.
“I started at KLBA when I was eight years old, after only a short time of training. My memories of that time are still very fresh.
“By the time I was nine, I was already on the podium, and after that, I gradually won titles up to the District Schools Sports Council (MSSD) level. I think I have a good understanding of KLBA’s management structure, coaching, and training programmes.
“Some of the coaching directors and management are still around, and being here feels like home to me,” said Yen Mei.
Besides coaching players at the grassroots level, Yen Mei is also equipping herself with scouting skills to identify new talent that can be developed.
She wants to share the experience she gained in the national camp with these young players, helping them achieve better results in their careers.
One of Yen Mei’s greatest achievements was helping Malaysia win silver medals in the women’s team event at two SEA Games, first in Singapore in 2015 and then in Kuala Lumpur in 2017.
“Malaysia has a lot of competition at grassroots level, so it’s important to manage the system and coordinate with club coaches.
“We also need to guide how players carry themselves and make sure they don’t rush into things. If they go out too quickly, their mindset can get misaligned with what they’ve learned. We have to follow the proper development order.
“By the time they turn 18 and join BAM, they won’t easily get injured, because everyone develops differently.
“Our goal is to keep them safe and ready, so the transition is smoother. All of this is why I focus on building a strong foundation,” she added.
