Malaysia men's doubles head coach Paulus Firman during the training session for the SEA Games at Muntinlupa Sports Complex in Manila yesterday. IZZRAFIQ ALIAS / The Star. November 30, 2019.
PETALING JAYA: The long wait for Paulus Firman’s replacement as the national mixed doubles coach has come to an end as the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) have found their man for the job.
Rexy Mainaky, the national doubles coaching director, said the candidate has been finalised but the Indonesian said he was not ready to reveal the name of the incoming coach just yet.
“We have finalised the candidate but he has requested us not to make an official announcement yet as he needs to settle a few things first,” said Rexy.
“So, we need to wait for his greenlight before making it official.”
Paulus did not seek an extension to his contract as the mixed doubles coach at the end of April and Rexy had been tasked with searching for a new candidate.
Independent coach Chin Eei Hui and Singapore mixed doubles coach Lim Pek Siah were two of the former BAM coaches who have been initially approached but they are not in the running any longer.
The United States-based former Olympic champion Tony Gunawan was also one of the candidates approached by Rexy while there have been speculations that experienced coach Nova Widianto is also on the BAM’s radar.
Currently, the mixed doubles squad are guided by national assistant coach Teo Kok Siang.
