FORMER national shuttler Tan Boon Heong has set himself a challenge to produce future world and Olympic champions.
The 32-year-old together with former partner Koo Kien Keat were once one of the best doubles players in the world. As a pair, they won several prestigious tournaments.
Unfortunately, the former World No 1 failed to finish on the top of the podium in the World Championships and Olympics.
Boon Heong now hopes to groom future Malaysian champions with the establishment of the TBH Badminton Academy.
He has six training centres located in Petaling Jaya, Puchong, Subang, Kota Damansara, Sungai Buloh and Kepong.
The former Asian Games champion has recruited 17 experienced coaches, headed by ex-Selangor shuttler Shia Tian Loong and former national doubles player Lim Khim Wah, to manage the training centres, which have a total of 200 young players.
Boon Heong will not be directly involved in coaching as he is still competing in tournaments.
“Malaysia have yet to win gold medals in the World Championships and the Olympics. The academy’s main target is to produce talents who can become world-beaters,” said Boon Heong at the official launch of his academy in Kepong yesterday.
“As I am still an active player, I will not be directly involved in coaching. However, I will still have sessions with the academy players when I am not playing in tournaments.
“I will have regular meetings with my coaches to ensure nothing is compromised in terms of training quality and discipline.
“Although I am a doubles player, we will not be restricting ourselves to just this department. We are also focusing on grooming players for the singles event.
“There are also plans to invite professional shuttlers to the academy. However, it is not something immediate as we do not have the funds yet,” said the former world junior champion in doubles.