Fit for double duty: Player-coach Daren says handling Zii Jia is not a challenge – the challenge is to find ways on how to maintain his consistency.
PETALING JAYA: Liew Daren has learnt much from his stint as a part-time coach for Lee Zii Jia.
Since the start of this year, Daren has been playing dual roles as a player and a coach for the world No. 4 but there have not been any immediate results on the badminton court for both but the former has certainly gained loads of experience.
The 35-year-old will continue with his double duty when he and Zii Jia both take part in the German Open in Mulheim from March 7-12,
“Handling Zii Jia is not a challenge ... the challenge is to find ways on how to maintain his consistency,” said Daren, who has been playing competitive badminton for 15 years.
“When I was playing, I only had to think about myself but now, I’ve to look at things from Zii Jia’s perspective too. I’ve learnt quite a few things in this short time as a part-time coach. All this experience will only make me better.
“Every top player will go through a low period in their careers. I believe this is a crucial time for Zii Jia. He did well in the first half of last year.
“Different players do it differently when they are down. It’s a process and I hope Zii Jia will regain his confidence soon.
“We have two sparring partners for him now. We usually discuss our training plan and decide together on what to do.
‘‘He is just focused on training and on competitions.’’
Will Daren become Zii Jia’s full-time coach?
“I have no idea, to be honest.
‘‘I still have not decided on my career yet, I’m still playing and looking at a few options,” admitted Daren.
Daren has not set any goals in the German Open, especially after coming back from a calf injury, which saw him withdraw from the Malaysian Open last month.
The world No. 31 will face Kanta Tsuneyama of Japan in the first round.
He is in the same half with top seed Zii Jia, Anders Antonsen of Denmark, India’s Lakhsya Sen, Kodai Naraoka of Japan and China’s Lu Guangzu.
Zii Jia is likely to meet Antonsen in the second round.
“Kodai is one of the most improved players, together with Thailand’s Kunlavut (Vitidsarn). They will be tough opponents for sure,” he said.
Kunlavut is seeded second and is in the lower half with China’s Li Shifeng, Zhao Junpeng, Shi Yuqi; Singapore Loh Kean Yew; Japan’s Kento Momota, Kenta Nishimoto and Malaysia’s independent player Cheam June Wei.
