JOHOR BAHARU: World No. 1 badminton singles player Datuk Lee Chong Wei appears to have been served a ‘double whammy’.
First, his coach, Datuk Misbun Sidek, quit the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM).
The dust had hardly settled when Chong Wei found he has also lost the services of his sport psychologist Frederick Tan.
Tan, who has been Chong Wei’s personal mental trainer for the past three years, quit his job with the National Sports Council (NSC) to join the Penang Sports Council (PSC).
The Kuching-born started work as director of the PSC, effective Jan 1, which means Chong Wei or rather the NSC, will have to look for a new sport psychologist to guide him as preparations for the London 2012 Olympics loom large.
NSC elite athlete division head Ariffin Ghani yesterday confirmed that are placement for Tan was being looked into.
“We are working with the National Sports Institute (NSI) to look for a suitable candidate to replace Frederick Tan. Chong Wei needs a mental trainer as he prepares for the London Olympics next year.
“Tan has served us well and we are sad to see him go. But it’s for his career advancement and we wish him well in Penang,” he said.
Chong Wei is now in Taipei for the BWF Super Series Masters Final without the two familiar figures by his side. — Bernama