KUALA LUMPUR: Doubles coach Teo Kok Siang has announced his engagement to former national mixed doubles player Cheah Yee See, joining a long list of prominent couples in badminton.
Kok Siang, 35, who is preparing world No. 3 men’s doubles pair Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani for next week’s Paris World Championships, shared the news on social media on Tuesday (Aug 19).
“She said yes. Forever starts now. One step closer to forever with you. Engaged to my best friend, my love, my everything,” he wrote.
Kok Siang, a former men’s doubles player, won the world and Asian junior titles with Mak Hee Chun in 2008.
While he did not have a smooth transition into senior badminton, he has made a name for himself as an independent coach.
Among his achievements was guiding Sze Fei-Izzuddin to the world No. 1 ranking this year.
World No. 29 men’s doubles pair Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi and world No. 6 mixed doubles pair Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai also train under Teo.
Yee See, 29, retired from competitive badminton early last year and now coaches at Chan Peng Soon’s academy.
She played mixed doubles with Peng Soon and women’s doubles with Lai Pei Jing.
Kok Siang and Yee See have joined a distinguished list of badminton power couples.
Malaysia has some of the most well-known pairs, including Datuk Seri Lee Chong Wei and Datin Seri Wong Mew Choo, as well as Soon Huat and Shevon Lai.
Other notable couples include China‘s Lin Dan and Xie Xingfang, and Chen Long and Wang Shixian; India’s Parupalli Kashyap and Saina Nehwal; Indonesia’s Alan Budi Kusuma and Susi Susanti; and England’s Chris and Gabrielle Adcock.
Earlier this month, Sze Fei married his fiancee, Yoke Shan, after the pair got engaged last December.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
