Malaysia's mixed doubles department is set for another coaching shake-up, with experienced coach Teo Kok Siang returning to the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) to assist national doubles coaching director Rexy Mainaky.
BAM performance committee director Datuk Seri Lee Chong Wei confirmed that Kok Siang will take up his new role on Sept 1, following the departure of national mixed doubles head coach Nova Widianto.
Kok Siang was initially brought in as Nova's assistant, but Nova has since decided to return to Indonesia to take charge of the country's national team.
With the coaching position now vacant, Rexy will temporarily oversee the mixed doubles department, with Kok Siang supporting him while BAM continues its search for a new head coach.
"We tried to get Chin Ee Hui from Australia and Jeremy Gan from Hong Kong because we wanted a local coach to lead the department, but both are still tied to their contracts," Chong Wei said.
He added that finding an experienced coach has become increasingly difficult, with many top coaches already committed to their respective programmes until after the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Kok Siang's return gives BAM a coach with previous experience in the national set-up. He spent five years with BAM from 2017 before moving into professional coaching, where he helped several Malaysian pairs achieve notable success, including Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani and Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie.
His experience could prove valuable as Malaysia looks to rebuild a mixed doubles department that has lost depth in recent months.
Source: Badminton Planet
World champions Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei have been temporarily split following Ee Wei's knee injury and subsequent surgery. Ee Wei is currently undergoing rehabilitation in Melbourne, while Tang Jie has been paired with youngster Clarissa San.
Meanwhile, Cheng Su Yin, who previously partnered Hoo Pang Ron, is now playing alongside Jimmy Wong after Pang Ron's departure from the national programme.
The changes have left Malaysia with fewer established combinations in the department, adding pressure on the coaching team to develop new partnerships while maintaining the progress of its leading players.
The situation has also affected Malaysia's World Championships plans. Tang Jie and Ee Wei have withdrawn from this month's tournament in India as Ee Wei continues her recovery.
Chong Wei acknowledged that rebuilding the department will take time but hopes the coaching situation and player combinations can be stabilised before the end of the year.
"We hope to rebuild the department and, hopefully, settle all the matters by the end of this year," he said.
For now, the Rexy-Kok Siang partnership will take charge of guiding Malaysia's mixed doubles players as BAM works towards finding a permanent head coach.
With the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics already part of Malaysia's long-term planning, the rebuilding process will be closely watched as the national programme looks to develop greater depth and ensure it is not overly dependent on a single leading pair.
