Hafiz Set To Join BAM As National Women’s Singles Coach

Hafiz Set To Join BAM As National Women’s Singles Coach - Mohd Hafiz Hashim is set to be the latest coach to join the Badminton Association of Malaysia’s (BAM) fold.

It is learnt that the 34-year-old Hafiz, the men’s singles champion at the 2003 All-England, will attend an interview with BAM’s technical director Morten Frost today to be the national women’s singles coach.

Once Hafiz is confirmed, the BAM’s coaching structure will be complete.

Hafiz left the BAM in 2011 and went on to set up Jaguh Tangkis Badminton Club (JTBC) in Kota Damansara in 2013.

For the last two years, he has been playing for Petaling Jaya Badminton Club in the Purple League.

Last Thursday, the BAM revamped their coaching structure and announced the appointments of five head coaches – Datuk Misbun Sidek (men’s singles), Cheah Soon Kit (men’s doubles), Tey Seu Bock (women’s singles), Wong Pei Tty (women’s doubles) and Chin Eei Hui (mixed doubles).

Yesterday, Frost confirmed that he would be interviewing a candidate for the woman’s singles coach job.

He, however, didn’t reveal the candidate’s name.

“All the departments have more than two coaches except for the women’s singles.

“There are plans to increase the women’s singles intake so we need another coach to strengthen the team,” said Frost.

Seu Bock is now assisted by Indonesian Rony Agustinus. They handle Soniia Cheah, Goh Jin Wei, Lee Ying Ying, Lim Yin Fun, Ho Yen Mei, Yap Yee, S. Kisona. Lee Zii Yii and M. Thinaah,

Overall, Frost is happy with the new coaching structure.

“We’ve five head coaches but it doesn’t mean that my job scope has been reduced. All of them report to me and I’ll make sure that the training and competition plans are well executed.

“I’ll work with the coaches to identify the core group of players to be sent out regularly for international tournaments. The main goal is to improve the players’ world rankings,” said the Dane.

Meanwhile, the three doubles head coaches – Soon Kit, Pei Tty and Eei Hui – reported for work yesterday at the Academy Badminton Malaysia (ABM) in Bukit Kiara.

Seu Bock will only start work after this week’s Indonesian Open in Jakarta while Misbun will begin his job after Hari Raya on July 1.

NEW COACHING STRUCTURE

Technical director: Morten Frost.

Men’s singles head coach: Datuk Misbun Sidek.

Assistant coaches: Hendrawan, Indra Wijaya, Sairul Amar Ayob.

Men’s doubles head coach: Cheah Soon Kit.

Assistant coaches: Jeremy Gan, Rosman Razak.

Women’s singles head coach: Tey Seu Bock.

Assistant coach: Rony Agustinus.

Women’s doubles head coach: Wong Pei Tty.

Assistant coaches: Lim Pek Siah, Hoon Thien How.

Mixed doubles head coach: Chin Eei Hui.

Assistant coaches: Pang Cheh Chang, Teo Kok Siang.