Improvement in training has not translated into results for Jonassen

KUALA LUMPUR: National singles coaching director Kenneth Jonassen has admitted he is far from satisfied with the current level of Malaysia’s men’s singles players, despite months of progress on the training court.

The Dane, who joined BAM in January, said results in tournaments have yet to reflect the improvements shown in training, and he urged his players to translate their hard work into actual match performances.

“To be honest, I can’t say I’m happy with their current performance. I want to see more improvement, but at the same time, I have to be patient,” said Jonassen on Tuesday.

“I do see progress in daily sessions, but it has yet to be fully reflected in tournaments. There is still a small gap between what we do in training and what happens in competition.”

Malaysia’s men’s singles currently hinge on world No. 22 Leong Jun Hao and world No. 36 Justin Hoh, but both have struggled for consistency this season.

Justin suffered his second consecutive first-round exit (he lost in the Korea Masters last week) after losing 21-14, 21-9 to Japan’s Shogo Ogawa at the Kumamoto Masters.

Jonassen said the challenge lies in getting players to think more independently during matches and adapt to real-game situations instead of relying on luck or isolated moments of brilliance.

“What I want to see is more consistency — players who can think on court, solve problems, and maintain focus throughout the match,” he said.

Still, Jonassen remains optimistic about the squad’s long-term prospects, particularly as Malaysia’s young line-up continue to mature under his guidance.

“The squad is still young. There will be ups and downs, but this is all part of the learning process. What’s important is that they stay focused and keep working hard,” he added.

© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd

Source link