Paulus returns 'home' as he leads Singapore in training at ABM

Singapore coach Paulus Firman (right, back row) having a word with Malaysia's doubles head coach Herry Iman Pierngadi during training session at Academy Badminton Malaysia, Bukit Kiara. — FAIHAN GHANI/The Star.

PETALING JAYA: Former men's doubles coach Paulus Firman considers Malaysia his second home after returning to the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) on Tuesday.

This time, however, Paulus is back as Singapore's coach, bringing seven players for a week-long training stint at the Academy Badminton Malaysia (ABM) in Bukit Kiara ahead of the Taiwan Open from July 28-Aug 2 and the Korean Masters from Aug 4-9.

The trip also gives him the opportunity to assess several new partnerships that Singapore have put together for the upcoming tournaments.

The players here at ABM are Junsuke Kubo-Howin Wong Jia Hao, Terry Hee-Wesley Koh, Willard Wee-Nge Joo Jie and Johan Prajogo-Nge Joo Jin. 

"I have to thank BAM, coaching director Rexy Mainaky and men's doubles head coach Herry Iman Pierngadi for giving me and the Singapore team the opportunity to train with them.

"I hope the players can learn a lot even though we've met each other many times at tournaments before," said Paulus. 

Singapore coach Paulus Firman during a training session at Academy Badminton Malaysia, Bukit Kiara. — FAIHAN GHANI/The Star.

"I'm trying out some new partnerships and we've also entered the Japan Open. So we'll use the Taiwan Open and Korean Masters to see how the new combinations perform."

Paulus and his seven players have been training at the ABM since Monday and will continue to spar with Malaysia's men's doubles squad throughout the week.

The visit has also reunited Paulus with Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik, whom he coached from 2018 and helped establish as one of Malaysia's leading men's doubles pairs.

Although Aaron and Wooi Yik are no longer partners, Paulus believes the decision to split them could prove beneficial.

"We have to wait and see the results first. If we don't try, how will we know what the outcome will be? I've done the same thing before. With the competition getting tougher, we have to be brave enough to try something different.

"That's the idea. Hopefully it gives the players fresh motivation and helps raise their level," he said.

Paulus first served with BAM for 10 months before leaving the national body in 2013.

He returned in 2018 before ending his second stint with BAM in 2022.