Moving on: National women's singles coach James Chua giving instructions to Siti Nurshuhaini Azman during a training session at BAM Bukit Kiara on Feb 6.—AZMAN GHANI/The Star
PETALING JAYA: It’s not even a year yet but James Chua has left the national women’s singles department as a coach but he is expected to return in a new role.
James joined the Badminton Association of Malaysia last July to fill the void left by Indra Wijaya and Loh Wei Sheng to beef up the department. Indra left to coach independent singles shuttler Lee Zii Jia before cutting ties recently while Wei Sheng joined Singapore as a coach.
James knew it would be a challenge as many senior players had left the squad before he joined but the former Malaysian Open champion still took up the post with the hope of turning around their fortunes.
However, it is learnt that James had stopped coaching just before the team left for the Cambodia SEA Games.
In James’ absence, men’s singles coach K. Yogendran had to juggle his duties by keeping an eye on the women players in Cambodia.
Unfortunately, Siti Nurshuhaini Azman and Tan Zhing Yi collapsed in their respective matches that saw Malaysia’s women team losing to the Philippines for the first time in SEA Games.
James is on a short leave and is expected to return to the national fold in a different capacity.
James, Indra and Wei Sheng are the many coaches who have been put in charge of the women’s singles but they did not last long.
Some of the coaches who have tried their luck before them were Rony Agustinus, Tey Seu Bock, Sairul Amar Ayob, Chi Shanrong and Wong Tat Meng.
Tat Meng was around when the women’s singles was probably at their peak under their best player and China Open champion Wong Mew Choo.
Last year, K. Letshanaa left before rejoining the squad this year.
This year, Myisha Khairul and S. Kisona left, joining an exodus of former recent players who departed like Soniia Cheah, Ho Yen Mei, Lee Ying Ying and Goh Jin Wei. Jin Wei has turned professional.
The constant changes of coaches and players, have left the BAM team bare with young and inexperienced group of players.
Besides Nurshuhaini and Zhing Yi, the others in the team are Wong Ling Ching and Ong Xin Yee.
