Chong Wei’s left in the lurch as coach Li Mao packs his bags

PETALING JAYA: Chinese coach Li Mao has left Malaysia to rejoin South Korea and it has thrown a spanner in the works of Lee Chong Wei's preparation for the World Badminton Championships. 

And the 25-year-old national number one, who has set his sights on winning the championships, which will be held at the Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalil from Aug 13-19, hopes that Li Mao would explain his reasons for leaving abruptly when he returns to Malaysia after the Chinese New Year holidays on Feb 20. 

Li Mao, who left for China after his last assignment with the national team at the Korean Open last week, has yet to officially inform the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) of his decision to leave the national team. 

National chief coach Yap Kim Hock confirmed yesterday that Li Mao signed a contract with the Korean BA during the Korean Open and he was expected to begin work in Seoul in March. 

Prior to joining the BAM in 2005, Li Mao had taken the Korean men's singles players to greater heights. 

His two-year contract in Malaysia expired on Dec 31. But instead of renewing it until the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, the National Sports Council (NSC) sat on it. 

For now, Kim Hock said that women's singles coach Wong Tat Meng would take over the job of handling the men's players. 

Chong Wei (left) hopes Li Mao would explain why he quit the team.

It is unlikely that the BAM would hire a foreigner immediately and the Sidek brothers – Misbun and Rashid – are seen as the better candidates to take charge of the men's singles department. 

Misbun is currently with the national team and he coaches Mohd Hafiz Hashim while Rashid is the chief coach of the Project 2010-12 squad. 

“We did not expect this. I called him two days ago (in China) and he confirmed that he has joined the Korean BA,” said Kim Hock. 

“He is a professional coach and making decisions like this is normal. We have to accept it. 

“Now, we have to decide on the coaching structure for the men's singles at the next BAM's coaching and training committee meeting. The show goes on for us. Tat Meng has learnt a lot under Li Mao and he will take care of the men's players for now.” 

Chong Wei, who reached the number one spot for the first time – albeit for a short period – under the charge of Li Mao, was disappointed. 

“No, I did not hear this news from Li Mao. He dropped hints during the Korean Open but I thought it was a joke,” said Chong Wei. 

“When he comes back from his break, hopefully, we can have dinner together. I hope he will tell all of us (the men's singles players) about his decision. Was it because of me? The BAM? Or was it the country? We want to hear why he chose to leave.” 

Chong Wei's performances have dropped since his elimination in the quarter-finals of the World Championships in Madrid last September. 

Now ranked at world number five, he hopes that his preparation for the upcoming world meet will not be affected. 

“It takes a while for me to get used to the styles of a new coach. In fact, it took me half a year to get used to Li Mao's coaching methods. There are only six months to go to the world meet,” said Chong Wei. 

“I have to make the best out of the situation. My immediate task is to concentrate on the All-England (in Birmingham from March 6-11).” 

Under the charge of Li Mao, except for the achievements of Chong Wei and Wong Choong Hann, there was nothing to shout about from the others.