Tat Meng gets coaching extension in S. Korea

PETALING JAYA: Former international Wong Tat Meng (pic) has survived the Badminton Korea Association’s (BKA) recent shake-up to their coaching line-up.

The 53-year-old, whose two-year term expires end of this month, confirmed his service will be extended for another two years until the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games.

“I enjoy working here. I like the environment and I’m treated very well. They are happy with my services so there’s no reason for me not to stay,” said Tat Meng yesterday.

“I’m also very pleased and grateful to have kept my job during these trying times. I couldn’t ask for more.”

Although the postponed Tokyo Olympics are only eight months away, the BKA axed their head coach Ahn Jae-chang after his contract ended in October.

Tat Meng will now report to new supremo Kim Chung-hoe who was appointed alongside singles coach Kim Ji-hyun and doubles coach Bae Gi-dae.

Those retained are Jang Young-soo (singles), Kim Yong-hyun (doubles) and Lee Kyung-won (doubles).

Ji-hyun was the most significant appointment as she had guided India’s P.V. Sindhu to her first world title last year.

She is expected to handle the women’s singles department and oversee the development of 18-year-old prodigy An Se-young, touted as a medal prospect at the Tokyo Games.

Tat Meng is however unsure if he would still be charge of the men’s singles which comprise former world No. 1 Son Wan-ho and 2013 world junior champion Heo Kwang-hee.

“I’ve met up with the head coach and we discussed our future plans,” added Tat Meng.

“But he has yet to decide on my role. When I joined, my task was to handle both men and women’s singles but now I just focused on the men.

“The next national team call-up will be later this month and then we’ll hold centralised training. I’ll have to wait until then.”

Tat Meng, who had two stints with the Badminton Association of Malaysia from 2003-2011 and 2013-2016, had coached Scotland for two years from 2016.

His other stint abroad was with Indonesia in 2012.