Kuala Lumpur: Former world champion Hendrawan will take on a bigger role – to mentor Datuk Lee Chong Wei – once the shuttler is cleared of his doping charge.
Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) technical director Morten Frost Hansen today confirmed that changes have been made in the men’s singles department.
“It’s very important to continue improving things and Chong Wei has had the same coach for a very long time. It is about time to see whether this change can add on a little bit extra possibilities to win the world championship or even the Olympics later on,” he told reporters at the BAM office in Bukit Kiara, here today.
Frost revealed that only Chong Wei Feng will be coaching under Chong Wei’s former coach Tey Seu Bock.
Hendrawan, 42, who was previously the back-up squad coach will also take care of three other players, namely Liew Darren, Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin and Cheam June Wei.
Chong Wei, the former World number one who is currently suspended by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) for an alleged doping offence has been training under Seu Bock since 2010, with former singles chief coach Rashid Sidek and Hendrawan assisting him.
Chong Wei is currently waiting for a decision from a three-member Badminton World Federation (BWF) panel with regard to his alleged doping offence since testing positive for dexamethasone, a banned substance, during the World Championships in Copenhagen, Denmark, last August.
Besides Hendrawan and Seu Bock, BAM also has He Guo Quan as the men’s singles coach and they will be responsible for the players assigned under them on coaching, welfare, rehab, fitness, gym programmes and others.
“But when it comes to actual training, you will not have one group here and one group there. I want them to work together, especially in knowledge sharing,” he added.
Frost was also concerned with the fitness level of the players based on the two-day trial selection last week since some players clearly lacked fitness and therefore will be required to undergo fitness training at the National Sports Institute (NSI).
“I would like to see the overall fitness level of our players. I want to test them in NSI and will conduct tests in two groups, one on Friday, April 24, and another group on Thursday, April 30.
— BERNAMA
