Last week, Badminton Association Malaysia (BAM) introduced a “Special Squad” to prep the national badminton team for world tournaments.
The Special Squad was also introduced as a measure to obliterate the tension between badminton king Datuk Lee Chong Wei and BAM technical director Morten Frost.
The Special Squad will train and groom the likes of Datuk Lee Chong Wei, Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin, Chong Yee Han, Soong Joo Ven, Soo Teck Zhi and Lim Chi Wing.
The Special Squad will be helmed by two national coaches, Hendrawan and Tey Seu Bock, with Hendrawan as the chief coach of the special squad. BAM’s technical director Morten Frost will not be involved in the project.
In fact, Frost will be handing over all his duties to Hendrawan as part of the requirement of the Special Squad.
“The Special Squad will have their own planning and separate budgets. I’ll hand over whatever that is needed to be handed over,” Morten Frost told The Star after the National Championships on Saturday.
“Hendrawan will be in charge of all the paper works, reports, booking of flights and filling up the BWF whereabout forms for doping for the players under his care. My job scope is slightly smaller now,” he added.
“This arrangement will work. It’s simple and not complicated. It all depends on the people administering it. As long as we stay professional, it’ll work just fine.”.
Frost also explained that the selection of players will not be an issue, as Hendrawan can directly propose names to the coaching and training committee (CNT). Should there be any disputes, CNT will have the final say.
This whole Chong Wei-Frost feud started when Chong Wei learned that Frost has been spreading rumours that Chong Wei’s career is over, after he sustained injuries during training at the Academy Badminton Malaysia (ABM) in Bukit Kiara on Feb 4.
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