PETALING JAYA: Newly appointed national junior singles coach Yeoh Kay Bin is aware that he faces a tough task, given the current shortage of quality players in the men’s singles category at the national camp.
However, the former coach of Lee Zii Jia knows what needs to be done, as handling junior players is not new to him.
Before coaching the Paris Olympic bronze medallist, Kay Bin was heavily involved in grassroots development through his New Vision Badminton Academy in Petaling Jaya.
The 45-year-old coach also recognises that the talent at the Academy Badminton Malaysia (ABM) in Bukit Kiara is at a different level, and his objective is to prepare these players to become world-class competitors once they enter the senior ranks.
“As everyone knows, the level in singles now is dropping, so of course there is a lot to do and we have to work hard for that.
“This is something we always do (training young players). But now it’s different because the players we have in BAM are all top juniors, so our mission has changed.
“We have to prepare them for the next senior level,” said Kay Bin when contacted.
Kay Bin will begin his duties in February, taking over from Datuk Tey Seu Bock, who is currently coaching the senior men’s singles squad.
He will be assisted by Goh Giap Chin, Aaron Lee Inbaraj, and Sylvia Kavita Kumares in the junior singles camp, and will report to national singles coaching director Kenneth Jonassen.
Kay Bin said he looked forward to working with his new colleagues.
“I’m excited because I’m also a product of BAM. But this time is a different role, I’m back at BAM as a coach. I know them very well. We’ve known each other for a long time, and I don’t think it will be a problem,” he added.
In addition to Kay Bin, BAM have also brought in former Indonesian men’s singles assistant coach Harry Hartono to assist Seu Bock, as well as Mohd Zakry Latif to support the women’s doubles squad.
