Harry Feels No Pressure To Improve National Men’s Singles Quality

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 10 (Bernama) -- National men’s singles new coach Harry Hartono has admitted that he does not feel pressured to elevate the stature and quality of Malaysian players in the future.

Harry, who has experience coaching Indonesia’s world number four Jonathan Christie and rising player Alwi Farhan (ranked 14th), said he is ready to take national players such as Leong Jun Hao (ranked 26th) and Justin Hoh (ranked 39th) to a higher level.

“I don’t feel any pressure because this is professional work. I am now with BAM (the Badminton Association of Malaysia) and focused on improving the players we currently have.

“Of course, it is also a challenge to coach my players so that they can shine on the world stage and become world number one or world champion,” he told reporters after his first training session here today.

While acknowledging that national players do possess their own quality, Harry hopes his coaching touch can help his charges maintain consistency, particularly in challenging other world-class players.

Regarding his first training session after officially reporting for duty today, he said he was pleased to see the high level of commitment shown by the national players during court training.

He revealed that he was keen to take on a new challenge and expand his coaching career in Malaysia, despite having returned to the Indonesian Badminton Association as assistant men’s singles coach to replace Marleve Mainaky last September.

He said Malaysia is the second country he has worked in overseas after his stint in Taiwan from 2005 to 2010, during which he identified the talent of their leading player, Chou Tien Chen (ranked sixth).

Harry has signed a contract with BAM until 2028.

In addition to Harry, BAM has also appointed Yeoh Kay Bin as the junior men’s singles coach, with both of them set to work together in guiding the national men’s singles squad alongside head coach Datuk Tey Seu Bock, as well as K. Yogendran, Alvin Chew and Goh Giap Chin.

-- BERNAMA