KUALA LUMPUR: The BA of Malaysia (BAM) is facing difficulties finding a quality replacement for national mixed doubles head coach Nova Widianto, who left on July 31.
BAM performance committee chairman Datuk Seri Lee Chong Wei said efforts to recruit an experienced coach had been limited as most preferred candidates remained under contract with their respective teams until the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
He said BAM had contacted several candidates, including former national coach Chin Eei Hui, who is now based in New Zealand, and Jeremy Gan, who is working in Hong Kong, but both remain tied to contracts.
"We are still looking. It is not easy to find a coach because most of them are already under contract until the 2028 Olympics.
"We have offered the position to several local coaches, but they all still have contracts. We understand their situation and need to find another solution," Chong Wei said.
Chong Wei said BAM needed to find a solution soon, as next year would be an important period for Malaysian badminton, particularly with the start of the qualifying process for the 2028 Olympics approaching.
He said if a suitable candidate could not be identified, BAM would have to consider alternative measures to ensure the national mixed doubles team's preparations were not affected.
Commenting on reports linking national junior doubles head coach Pang Cheh Chang to the position, Chong Wei confirmed that his name was on the shortlist, but no final decision had been made.
"His name is indeed on the shortlist, but we have not made a decision. We need to discuss the matter at committee level to determine our first, second and third choices before submitting the names to BAM president Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz for approval.
"Only after receiving approval can we announce the decision," he added.
Nova left BAM to rejoin Indonesia's national team after helping Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei win the mixed doubles world title in Paris last year.
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