KUALA LUMPUR: Former shuttler Tan Boon Heong denied that he was approached to fill the position of men’s doubles head coach in the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM).
BAM are currently on the lookout for a coach to fill outgoing coach Tan Bin Shen’s position.
National coaching director Rexy Mainaky earlier listed Boon Heong as one of the potential candidates for the role.
The 37-year-old though said that he was not approached by Rexy and was not interested to be a coach.
“Rexy didn’t approach me for this position. Honestly, I was surprised to read that I was one of the potential candidates for the role,” said Boon Heong.
“I’m not interested in becoming a coach. I prefer to watch badminton and analyse matches.”
Boon Heong though shared that he was helping to look for a coach for independent players such as Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi.
Yew Sin-Ee Yi are currently without a coach after Rosman Razak left to rejoin BAM as the women’s doubles coach in November.
“I’m sponsored by Li Ning just like Yew Sin-Ee Yi and I’m helping them look for a coach,” said Boon Heong.
“I never considered being a coach for the independent team too.”
It is learnt the BAM have narrowed down to two candidates – one local and one foreigner as Bin Shen’s replacement, who will be joining Hong Kong.
The national body is expected to name the coach after this week’s Malaysian Open, where Bin Shen will coach the men’s doubles for one last time before he leaves.