Doubles coach Jeremy decides it’s time to move on from BAM
KUALA LUMPUR: Jeremy Gan (pic) is set to be the third Malaysian badminton coach to be under the payroll of a foreign country.
The 38-year-old Jeremy tendered his resignation as the national men’s doubles coach on Friday. He is the second high-profile coach to leave the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) in September.
Technical director Morten Frost of Denmark ended his two-and-half-year stint with BAM on Sept 11, citing personal reasons.
Jeremy, who has served BAM for 15 years, said that it was “time to move on”.
“I’ve been approached by another country and I’m weighing the offer. I’ll decide soon,” said Jeremy, who didn’t reveal the name of the country keen on hiring him.
The other two Malaysians abroad are Tan Kim Her (doubles coach in India) and Wong Tat Meng (coaching director in Scotland).
Jeremy has assumed different coaching roles in BAM since he started in 2002 at the age of 25
He produced world and Asian junior champions when he was with the Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS), including the likes of Lim Khim Wah-Ng Hui Lin (2007 world junior mixed doubles champions); Tan Wee Kiong-Woon Khe Wei (2007 Asian junior mixed doubles champions); and Teo Kok Siang-Mak Hee Chun (2008 world junior and Asian junior boys’ doubles champions).
As the national mixed doubles coach, he groomed Chan Peng SoonGoh Liu Ying to become world No. 3.
As the national men’s doubles coach, he guided Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong to become world No. 1.
V Shem-Wee Kiong also did exceptionally well last year – winning silver at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games as well as bagging the Denmark Open title and the World Superseries Finals crown.
Jeremy stressed that his decision to leave had nothing to do with doubles head coach Cheah Soon Kit’s decision to split up V ShemWee Kiong.
“I’ve been with BAM a long time. It’s time to go out there and gain more experience. It’ll enhance my coaching credentials. I’ll be a better coach with the overseas experience,” he said.
BAM president Datuk Seri Norza Zakaria took Jeremy’s decision in his stride.
“No one is indispensable. Jeremy has his reasons. This is part and parcel of the transformation that we’re making in the BAM. The association is bigger than everyone,” he said.