BAM challenge Misbun to develop players in the mould of Chong Wei

KUALA LUMPUR: The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) have thrown down the gauntlet to Misbun Sidek to produce champions in the mould of Lee Chong Wei by giving him a new team to work with.

But whether Misbun will accept it or not is another question.

The BAM’s coaching and training committee confirmed yesterday that Misbun would not resume duties in training Chong Wei and a new group of players will be selected from the elite and back-up squads for him to prepare for the 2014 Asian Games and 2016 Olympics.

Misbun will have to inform the BAM before their exco meeting on April 28 on whether the new arrangement is acceptable in a new two-year contract.

The coaching and training committee chairman, Ng Chin Chai, said that all the major stake holders – Chong Wei, the National Sports Council (NSC), sponsors, coaches and relevant parties – had no objection to their decision to entrust Misbun with a team for the future.

“We are throwing a new challenge to Misbun. He will be given a new group and his task to find replacements for Chong Wei. All the stake holders are comfortable with the decision that we have made,” said Chin Chai after a three-hour meeting.

Although Misbun has been given a new role, he will enjoy the same perks from the BAM.

“We will reveal the names of the players to come under his charge later. It can be a mix of elite and back-up players,” said Chin Chai.

“We have listed the names to him and yes, (his son) Ramdan is one of the possible candidates. Some of the players are comfortable with Misbun’s style of coaching.

“Chong Wei will continue to train under Rashid Sidek and Teh Seu Bock. This decision is taken in the interest of the nation.”

Among the singles players in the current elite squad are Liew Daren, Chan Kwong Beng, Chong Wei Feng and Tan Chun Seang.

Besides Ramdan, the other players in the back-up squad are Goh Soon Huat, Mohd Arif Abdul Latif, Lim Fang Yang, Loh Wei Sheng, Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin, Kuan Kam Chung, Mohd Syawal Mohd Ismail and Tew Gee Chong.

Ramdan can consider himself as good as coming under the charge of his father. He was one of the four players requested by Misbun before his resignation on Dec 31. The others on Misbun’s list then were Daren, Iskandar and Syawal.

The BAM had to come out with a new role for Misbun after he withdrew his resignation three months later. In his absence, Chong Wei had grown comfortable training under Rashid and Seu Bock and announced that he would like to continue with the arrangement.

Chin Chai said that Misbun took up their offer in a calm way when met recently.

“We are waiting for him to get back to us,” he said.

On whether back-up squad’s singles coach Hendrawan was happy with the arrangement, Chin Chai said: “Both will have a good team to work with.

“Their players will have the same goals to achieve. They are not in a competition but working together for the good of Malaysian badminton.”

Posted by Lucas Liau on 9:27 AM. Filed under Latest News . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0