Hong Kong appoint Malaysia’s former badminton world No 1 Wong Choong Hann as new coach
- Former Malaysia badminton coaching director will start his new role this week, after scramble to fill job ahead of Asian Games
- New coach replaces Wong Tat Meng, who suddenly quit post in May to return home and work with struggling Malaysia No 1 Lee Zii Jia
Former badminton world No 1 Wong Choong Hann of Malaysia has been appointed the new men’s singles coach of the Hong Kong team, ending months of uncertainty after the sudden departure of Wong Tat Meng.
Sports Institute head coach Tim He Yiming said they were fortunate to secure such a quality coach in such a short period of time.
“It was not easy for us to find the replacement,” He said. “As a player, Wong has won many honours including a silver medal at the World Championships, and was the coaching director at the Badminton Association of Malaysia after his retirement.
“His experience and exposure at the highest level both as a player and a coach will certainly help the team as we look forward to the Asian Games in Hangzhou and the world tour for the remainder of the season.”
The 46-year-old Malaysian, who reached the top spot in the world rankings in August 2002 before making it to the World Championships final in Birmingham the following year, will start his new role in Hong Kong this week to work mainly with Angus Ng Ka-long, the world No 13, and Lee Cheuk-yiu, who is four places behind his compatriot.
Both players are currently competing at the Canada Open in Calgary, with former Hong Kong No 1 Vincent Wong Wing-ki acting as caretaker coach.
The men’s team had been coached another Malaysian in Wong Tat Meng since last summer, and both Ng and Lee said they were able to make progress under his guidance.
In March, Ng lifted his first silverware in three years when he won the German Open in Mulheim. A month before, he reached the final of the Thailand Masters and finished joint third at the Indonesia Masters.
Lee reached the semi-finals of the German Open before losing to his teammate Ng, and reached the final of last month’s Thailand Open.
However, Malaysia’s struggling No 1 Lee Zii Jia, who is now ranked one place behind Ng, revealed in May he had convinced Hong Kong-based Wong to return to his home country and coach him, filling the spot left vacant by Indonesia’s Indra Wijaya since late last year.
Wong’s sudden departure shocked the Hong Kong camp, who had to quickly find a replacement for the Asian Games in September, and the beginning of the 2024 Paris Olympic qualification cycle, which will end in April next year.
“The new coach has seen the performance level of our players and is confident of bringing them to a higher level ahead of the major events,” He added.
Meanwhile, Chan Yin-chak lifted the men’s singles title at the Mongolia International Challenge last weekend, defeating Daniil Dubovenko of Israel in the final 21-19, 21-11.
In the women’s doubles, Hong Kong’s Ng Wing-yung and Lui Lok-lok also stood atop the podium after beating Angela Yu and Setyana Mapasa of Australia 21-16, 21-18.
