Joo-bong sorry for not accepting position as coaching director

KUALA LUMPUR: Doubles legend Park Joo-bong has expressed his regret for declining the job as Malaysia’s national badminton coaching director at the very last minute.

The Korean multiple Olympic gold medallist, who had been on the verge of accepting the offer, had a change of heart and will continue as Japan’s chief coach for the next four years.

Joo-bong conveyed his decision to Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) general manager Kenny Goh at the ongoing Hong Kong Open in Kowloon.

Joo-bong said he gave in to strong persuasion by his friends in Japan, who convinced him to stay on after he had informed them of his intention to move to Malaysia.

“I’m very sorry. I apologise to BAM for changing my mind after being almost 95% certain that I would join them,” Joo-bong said in a telephone interview.

“I have been liaising with BAM via email and all my requests were met. Unfortunately, the Japan BA pleaded with me to stay and I couldn’t refuse.

“It’s been a miserable two weeks as I was torn between the two countries. I wanted to come to Malaysia but I have set so much in place in Japan over the last eight years and made many friends. They didn’t want me to go and I finally agreed to stay.”

Joo-bong refuted claims that he had changed his mind because of a better offer from Japan BA.

“It isn’t about who offered me more money. I considered Malaysia in the first place when I found out that Japan BA were going to have their elections and wanted a local chief coach. But the situation has changed.”

BAM coaching and training chairman Ng Chin Chai said the failure to land Joo-bong was a minor setback.

“It’s unfortunate but we will now look at other alternatives,” said Chin Chai.

“We will have to find someone of the same calibre or appoint several project managers to run our programmes.”