Joy in India: Poh Chai Boon with Choong Hon Jian-Haikal Nazri when the duo won their first Super 300 title at the Syed Modi International last year.
PETALING JAYA: There are many unsung heroes in Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) and one of them is Poh Chai Boon.
The 36-year-old Chai Boon had served as a coach in various positions with the national body behind the scenes but his tenure has ended after 15 years of dedicated work.
Chai Boon, whose contract will be ending this month, was told that his service was no longer required.
He was head coach Tan Bin Shen’s able assistant and had worked hard like clydesdale, churning out quality work rate over the years without much spotlight to himself. And with Bin Shen also deciding to quit the national team after receiving a lucrative offer from Hong Kong, the men’s doubles department is only left with Indonesian Miftakh.
Probably, national coaching director Rexy Mainaky will step in to coach the department until able replacements are found.
Chai Boon has many good memories with the team.
“I’ve been long with the national body and assisted many top coaches, I’ll leave with a wealth of experience for sure,” said Chai Boon, who is married to SEA Games champion Amelia Anscelly, who is currently the girls’ doubles coach with BAM.
New venture: Coach Poh Chai Boon has joined Y Ying brand.
Initially Chai Boon was in the junior team with Yap Kim Hock. He then moved to the junior side with Zhou Kejian of China and Kwan Yoke Meng at Bukit Jalil Sports School. He also spent three to four years with Datuk Misbun Sidek at Academy Badminton Malaysia before he was moved to the senior doubles team with Bin Shen two years ago.
He was the coach who accompanied Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani to their first international tournament at the US Open in August last year when the duo reunited after their brief separation.
Sze Fei-Izzuddin won the title before going on to enjoy a meteoric rise in a short span.
Chai Boon was also with Choong Hon Jian-Haikal Nazri when the duo won their first Super 300 title at the Syed Modi International last year.
He was also there when Aaron Tai-Kang Khai Xing ended Malaysia’s six-year wait for a world junior title by winning the boys’ doubles at the recent edition in Nanchang, China.
“It’s also fulfilling for coaches to see their players win titles. It was nice to see Sze Fei-Izzuddin win their first title after making a comeback, as it really boosted their confidence,” he said.
Way of champions: Coach Poh Chai Boon posing with Aaron Tai-Kang Khai Xing after the duo won the Thailand International Challenge this year.
“Hong Jian-Haikal also won in Syed Modi, which is important as it gave them the self belief that they can win too.”
Asked whether he had any regrets, Chai Boon said: “Not really, I truly enjoyed my stint as I love the game. Probably, I just felt weird that my contract was not extended although I had worked hard and produced results.”
Chai Boon will continue to be involved in the sport as he has signed up with Y Ying sport brand from China and will collaborate with TRS badminton academy. The academy have branches in Kuala Lumpur and Johor Baru.
“It will be a new journey for me outside of BAM but I will be doing the same task – to inspire players and equip them to reach their potential,” added Chai Boon.
Chai Boon is one of the many coaches who have left the national setup in recent times.
