BAM hire Lawrence and Fredrick to change mindset of players
KUALA LUMPUR: The focus is on mind over matter for the shuttlers next year.
The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) have hired two mental trainers – Datuk Lawrence Chan Kum Peng and Fredrick Tan – to beef up the players’ mental preparation for tournaments.
Lawrence will focus on the team’s preparation for the Thomas-Uber Cup Finals. The Finals is in Bangkok, Thailand, from May 20-27.
The qualifiers will be held during the Asia Badminton Team Championships in Alor Setar, Kedah, from Feb 6-11.
Lawrence was also part of the Project 88-90 badminton squad, helping to groom Rashid Sidek, Kwan Yoke Meng, Cheah Soon Kit and Soo Beng Kiang into the victorious team that recaptured the Thomas Cup in 1992.
He was also with the team for the 2000 edition but Malaysia failed to reach the semi-finals in one of their worst Thomas Cup outings. That led to a few top office-bearers quitting their positions.
Sports psychologist Frederick has been
engaged for a longer stint. He will work with the players for a year.
Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) president Datuk Seri Norza Zakaria hopes that the mental trainers’ presence will help the players break barriers next year.
“These two mental trainers come with good credentials and I hope they can change the mindset of players and be more courageous on court,” said Norza after chairing the council meeting at the Academy Badminton Malaysia (ABM).