Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia’s former national singles chief coach Rashid Sidek and former women’s doubles coach Rosman Razak have officially signed with Sports Affairs Academy, as the club’s new singles chief coach and doubles chief coach.
Both coaches will be coaching the club for a period of three years starting May 1 of this year. Former Director General of the National Sports Council (NSC) Datuk Shapawi Ismail held the official launching ceremony for the club on May 15th and the club’s president – Rashid Hussin Raezal said they have assigned Indonesian coach Nova Armada Rashid to be the assistant coach for Rashid Sidek.
Raezal revealed the goal of the club was to produce top shuttlers that could qualify for the Olympics.
“Our elite athletes have signed a one-year (one plus one) contract with us and they will be expose to highly intensive trainings,” said Raezal.
“We will provide resources to nurture and develop these athletes for the 2020 and 2024 Olympics,” added Raezal.
The club currently have 10 shuttlers that could compete at the highest level of badminton, they are Mohd Arif Ab Latif, Tan Chun Seang, Nur Mohd Azriyn Ayub for the men’s single; Sannatasah Saniru for women’s single; and Mohd Lutfi Zaim Abdul Khalid/Mohd Razif Ab Latif and Lim Khim Wah/Hoon Thien How for the men’s doubles, together with two other Indonesian players, Fikri Ihsandi Hadmadi and Rusyidina Antardayu Riodingin.
The Sports Affairs Academy will conduct a nationwide talent search in June for players ages 18-23 at it’s headquarter located in in Taman Segar Perdana, Cheras, Selangor.
Rashid Sidek will play an important role in discovering those talented athletes.