BAM hopes to hire Indonesia's Kho Mei Hua

JAKARTA (JP): The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) is hoping to hire Indonesia's women's singles coach Kho Mei Hua to support its ambition of improving its women's squad in international events, in particular, at the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Kuala Lumpur in September.

BAM consultant Indra Gunawan of Indonesia said on Thursday that Mei Hua would visit Kuala Lumpur in mid-July to discuss the possibility of coaching the Malaysian squad with the National Sports Council (MSN) and BAM.

"I have spoken to Mei Hua about her chances of coaching the women's team and she seemed very interested. It's important that we attract Mei Hua to coach our squad instead of her original plan to move to Australia," Indra was quoted as saying by Berita Harian daily.

"Mei Hua is a well-known coach in Indonesia as she helped to coach Indonesia's top shuttlers Susy Susanti and Mia Audina. She will make a difference to our women's squad especially prior to our Southeast Asian (SEA) Games campaign."

"I have recommended her not because she's an Indonesian but basically because her record of achievement will be helpful for us."

So far, Malaysia's women's squad has been coached by Soon Cheng Hua of China, who will assist Indra in coaching the men's singles.

Mei Hua refuted such reports, saying that she had never had any serious discussion with Indra nor BAM.

"I met Oom (uncle) Indra at the Jakarta Open in April but we only talked as friends as we haven't seen each other for quite some time. We didn't have a serious discussion over whether I would move to Malaysia," she told The Jakarta Post by phone on Friday.

"I will have some days off in Semarang to take a break. Besides, if Malaysia wants to hire a women's coach, there are much better coaches than me." (yan)