Source:REUTERS/LISA LEUTNER
[Saba Sports News] After men’s doubles head coach Tan Bin Shen announced his departure, Malaysia’s national badminton team men’s doubles coach Foo Kok Keong is also set to leave, ending a 15-year relationship with the Badminton Association of Malaysia. According to information, Foo Kok Keong has served in various roles from the youth team to Bukit Jalil Sports School, and was appointed as an assistant to Tan Bin Shen as the men’s doubles head coach two years ago. Over the years, he has contributed to many top coaches and created numerous beautiful memories. Last year at the US Open, Foo witnessed the reunion of Goh Szefei and Nur Izzuddin as they won the championship; at the Samudi International Badminton Tournament, he saw Choong Hon Jian and Muhammad Haikal win their first Super 300 championship; and at the World Badminton Youth Championships in Nanchang, China, he watched Aaron Tai and Kang Khai Xing become the eighth Malaysian men’s doubles champions at the World Junior Championships, ending a six-year drought for Malaysia. Foo Kok Keong expressed that he felt honored to grow alongside Malaysia’s men’s doubles team. With his departure, he becomes the 11th coach to leave the Malaysian Badminton Association in the past three years, not including Datuk Tey Seu Bock, the former men’s singles coach, and Hoon Thien How, the former women’s doubles coach, who were reassigned to the national youth team in October. Some fans believe the instability of the coaching staff is a major reason for the poor performance of the Malaysian national team.