KUALA LUMPUR: Former national coach Yap Kim Hock, who is now a “forgotten figure”, was the person who introduced world champion Chen Tang Jie to doubles, according to the player’s former coach, Datuk Jack Koh.
Tang Jie, who won the mixed doubles world title with Toh Ee Wei in Paris on Sunday, was encouraged to focus on doubles by Kim Hock back in 2013, when both were at the Petaling Badminton Club (Petaling BC).
Jack, who is the managing director of Petaling BC, said Kim Hock was the head coach of the club’s SS Junior Programme, which aimed to groom future Olympic champions from 2013 to 2017.
Kim Hock’s arrival prompted Tang Jie to leave the BA of Malaysia (BAM) junior programme to join the club, while Soh Wooi Yik followed suit in 2015.
Another notable player under the programme was Man Wei Chong, who spent his junior years at the club from 2011 to 2017 before joining BAM.
“We started the SS Junior Programme in 2010 and Kim Hock became our coach in 2013. That’s when Tang Jie switched to Petaling BC,” said Jack.
“He was playing in all events then, and it was Kim Hock who encouraged him to focus on doubles.”
“Kim Hock’s presence possibly convinced Tang Jie’s mother, Grace (Chen), to enrol her son in our programme so he could decide his career path under the guidance of an experienced coach.”
Kim Hock paired Tang Jie with Wei Chong and later with Wooi Yik in various tournaments, while he also partnered with several others in mixed doubles.
Wooi Yik, originally a singles player, was switched to doubles by Kim Hock after joining the club in 2015.
“We’re happy that Tang Jie is now a mixed doubles world champion, and Wooi Yik also won the 2022 men’s doubles world title with Aaron Chia,” said Jack.
“Wei Chong is also making a name for himself with Tee Kai Wun, and it’s good to see the programme has yielded some success.”A
fter observing the progress of the trio, former BAM president Tan Sri Norza Zakaria invited them along with Kwek Yee Jian, Tan Chee Tean, and Ian Wong to join the national squad in 2017.
However, Jack said the departure of these players forced the club to halt the junior programme.
“After the six players went to BAM, we had to pause the programme, and Kim Hock also left to join the Singapore Sports School,” Jack added.
“However, seeing the success of Tang Jie and the other players, Petaling BC is planning to revive the programme, especially as we’ve been encouraged by our sponsors.”
“We hope we can relaunch the programme in search of the next Tang Jie.”
Kim Hock is currently coaching at the Zhengzhou Badminton Academy in Henan, China.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
