Latest news with #BadmintonEngland
The Star
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Star
Serving in new capacity
Getting the hang of it: Tan Kian Meng is currently working with mixed doubles pair Callum Hemming and Estelle Van Leeuwen after joining Badminton England as a guest coach. PETALING JAYA: There was a familiar face making waves at the China Open in Changzhou last week as former mixed doubles shuttler Tan Kian Meng took his first steps into the world of coaching. Kian Meng, who retired in March after his final outing at the All-England with partner Lai Pei Jing, had initially planned to focus on product sales and reviews on online platforms. He was hesitant to enter the coaching scene due to the stiff competition and the saturated badminton academy landscape in Malaysia. But an unexpected opportunity came his way when he was invited to join Badminton England as a guest coach. For the 2022 Commonwealth Games bronze medallist, the offer was a golden opportunity to broaden his horizons and chart a new path following his retirement as a player. 'Actually, I see this as a great opportunity for me to learn. I've been with the England camp since last month after being invited to serve as a guest coach for a month. 'But now I've been assigned to accompany the players to several scheduled tournaments, and I feel this is a valuable experience for me,' said Kian Meng when contacted. Kian Meng is currently working with mixed doubles pair Callum Hemming and Estelle Van Leeuwen, who are set to compete at the Macau Open this week. The duo will take on China's Hong Yili-Huang Kexin in the opening round. Last week in Changzhou, Hemming-Van Leeuwen were knocked out in the first round by Denmark's Mads Vestergaard and Christine Busch. Kian Meng is also coaching the world No. 14 men's doubles pair Ben Lane-Sean Vendy. He is expected to remain with the England team until the China Masters in September. Kian Meng is not the first Malaysian to lend his expertise to Badminton England. The national body had previously enlisted former internationals Koo Kien Keat and Datuk Cheah Soon Kit as guest coaches to help develop their players.
The Star
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Star
Kian Meng savours his first steps into world of coaching
PETALING JAYA: There was a familiar face making waves at the China Open in Changzhou this week as former mixed doubles shuttler Tan Kian Meng took his first steps into the world of coaching. Kian Meng, who retired in March after his final outing at the All-England with partner Lai Pei Jing, had initially planned to focus on product sales and reviews on online platforms. He was hesitant to enter the coaching scene due to the stiff competition and the saturated landscape of badminton academies in Malaysia. But an unexpected opportunity came his way when he was invited to join Badminton England as a guest coach. For the 2022 Commonwealth Games bronze medallist, the offer was a golden opportunity to broaden his horizons and chart a new path following his retirement as a player. 'Actually, I see this as a great opportunity for me to learn. I've been with the England camp since last month after being invited to serve as a guest coach for a month. 'But now I've been assigned to accompany the players to several scheduled tournaments, and I feel this is a valuable experience for me," said Kian Meng when contacted on Sunday (July 27). Kian Meng is currently working with mixed doubles pair Callum Hemming and Estelle Van Leeuwen, who are set to compete at the Macau Open starting on Tuesday. The duo will take on China's Hong Yili-Huang Kexin in the opening round. This week in Changzhou, Hemming-Van Leeuwen were knocked out in the first round by Denmark's Mads Vestergaard and Christine Busch. Kian Meng is also coaching the world No. 14 men's doubles pair Ben Lane-Sean Vendy. He is expected to remain with the England team until the China Masters in September. Kian Meng is not the first Malaysian to lend his expertise to Badminton England. The national body had previously enlisted former internationals Koo Kien Keat and Datuk Cheah Soon Kit as guest coaches to help develop their players.
New Straits Times
12-07-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Soon Kit joins England as guest coach ahead of Paris Worlds
KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Cheah Soon Kit has joined Badminton England as a guest coach in the lead-up to next month's World Championships in Paris. The 57-year-old, who was part of Malaysia's historic 1992 Thomas Cup-winning team, was officially unveiled on Friday (July 11). "We are thrilled to welcome another experienced former badminton star to the hallowed courts at the National Badminton Centre as Cheah Soon Kit joins the Badminton England coaching ranks as a guest coach," said Badminton England in a statement. "The former Malaysian men's doubles hero is set to enrich our coaching provision in the lead-up to the World Championships in August." Soon Kit is no stranger to success on English soil. In 1994, he and Soo Beng Kiang defeated England's Simon Archer-Chris Hunt to win the Commonwealth Games gold in Victoria. Two years later, he partnered Yap Kim Hock to claim silver at the Atlanta Olympics. After retiring, Soon Kit turned to coaching and played a key role in guiding Wong Pei Tty-Chin Ee Hui to Commonwealth Games gold in Melbourne in 2006. He later headed the national men's doubles department in 2017 and helped shape the rise of Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, who went on to become two-time All-England finalists.
The Star
11-07-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Old Kit on the new block - Thomas Cupper joins England
File photo of Morten Frost (left) and Cheah Soon Kit. - The Star KAMARUL ARIFFIN PETALING JAYA: Former great Cheah Soon Kit joins England as a coach in lead up to the World Championships in Paris in August. On Friday (July 11), the Badminton England announced that they had hired Soon Kit, who was a member of Malaysia's 1992 Thomas Cup winning team, as their guest coach. "We are thrilled to welcome another vastly experienced former badminton star to the hallowed courts at the National Badminton Centre as Cheah Soon Kit joins the Badminton England coaching ranks as a guest coach," read the statement. "The former Malaysian men's doubles hero is set to enrich our coaching provision in lead up to the World Championships in August." In 1994, Soon Kit and partner Soo Beng Kiang defeated English pair Simon Archer-Chris Hunt to win the Commonwealth Games gold. And in 1996, Soon Kit and Yap Kim Hock won the silver medal at the Atlanta Olympic Games. Soon Kit moved into a coaching role at the end of his playing days, becoming the national women's coach for Malaysia and guided Wong Pei Tty-Chin Ee Hui to a gold at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. He headed the men's doubles department in 2017 and had an influence on the burgeoning careers of two-time All-England finalists Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik.
