PETALING JAYA: Former great Beh Lee Wei is ready to start all over to build a solid team after being named as the national table tennis coach again.
The 38-year-old Lee Wei, who was dropped in 2019, was rehired last December by the new Table Tennis Association of Malaysia (TTAM) management headed by president Datuk Seri Tee Lip Sin.
She has done marvellous work for the five years when she was coach.
Under her guidance, Ho Ying and Karen Lyne defied the odds to win a bronze medal at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.
“I’m just happy to be back to guide the national team again, ” said Lee Wei, who has represented the nation for 15 years.
During her playing days, Lee Wei was instrumental in the team’s silver medal effort at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
“There were problems that saw me leaving the national team in 2019 but I’m glad that it’s all over and we can focus on the players again, ” she said.
“When I was the coach, I was able to form a good team to challenge for medals in major tournaments. It took me eight years to win a medal at the Commonwealth Games but my charges did it in four years.
“When I left, some of the good players left too. I’m planning to bring back one or two but they will have to go through the selection trials like everyone else.”
Commonwealth Games medal winner Karen is one of the charges she is hoping to bring back into the team.
The players currently under her care are 27-year-old Mohd Ashraf Haiqal Mohd Rizal, Choong Javen (20), Wong Qi Shen (18). Amos Ling Yi Heng (18), Ho Ying (26), Alice Chang Li Sian (21), Tee Ai Xin (20) and Lee Xin Ni (14).
The team’s major tournament this year is the SEA Games in Vietnam in December.
“We are currently training in Bukit Jalil, and once the green light is given to compete, we will send our players out. I’ll also look out for young talents to include in the team, ” added the mother of two.
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