Mumbai: The Badminton Association of India (BAI) has finally managed to rope in the services of top doubles coach Tan Kim Her on Friday. The Malaysian was in the Capital of India to finalise his contract with the Sports Authority of India, and BAI president Akhilesh Das Gupta said that Tan Kim Her will join the Indian team by the end of September.
Tan Kim Her has been a respected doubles coach, having served in England, South Korea and Malaysia. Though BAI was in talks with him for some time, Tan Kim Her had asked for more time to make up his mind as the Malaysian federation wanted him to continue as coach.
Das Gupta said he is happy that finally Tan Kim Her has given his consent. “We wanted to get a top doubles coach for our players and were looking out for a suitable coach for some time. I am happy that Tan Kim Her has given his consent and will join the team in September,” said Das Gupta.
“His contract is for five years but there will be an assessment after two years. At the moment, he will be a huge asset to the doubles players during the Olympic qualification year,” he added.
India’s chief badminton coach Pullela Gopichand also said on Saturday that the Malaysian will bring in a lot of experience and knowledge and he wants him to ensure maximum qualification for the Olympics Games next year.
Tan Kim Her, who will draw a salary of $7,500 per month, will be holding national camp for doubles at a separate training venue in Hyderabad and not at the Pullela Gopichand Academy. “At the moment he will be based in Hyderabad but he the doubles camp will be held at a separate venue in Hyderabad,” said a top BAI official.
The pair of Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa has been training separately and not at the Gopichand academy. “Now it is up to them whether they want to utilize the services of the doubles coach and take training under them. It is a separate venue and they should not have any objection in coming there,” the source said.
Jwala and Ashwini, ranked No. 12, are in the race to qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympics while the men’s doubles pair of Sumeeth Reddy and Manu Attri are also in the mix as they entered top 20 (World No. 20) on Thursday with a jump of four spots.
