# Rosman Razak named women’s doubles head coach
# Chong Wei and Zii Jia confirmed as first and second singles
# Iskandar, Joo Ven and Jun Hao to battle for third singles
Doubles specialist Tan Boon Heong is back in the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) stable to strengthen the Thomas Cup team for the Finals which will be held at the Impact Arena in Bangkok from May 20-27.
The 30-year-old who turned professional in 2015 after quitting BAM last partnered Indonesian ace Hendra Setiawan. Incidentally, Hendra is also back with the Indonesian Thomas Cup team.
Hendra played a leading role in Indonesia’s success in the last week E-Plus Badminton Asia Team Championships in Alor Setar where Indonesia retained the men’s team title with a 3-1 win over China in the final.
Boon Heong’s return to BAM was announced by BAM president Datuk Seri Norza Zakaria after chairing the Coaching and Training (C&T) committee meeting at Badminton Academy Malaysia on Tuesday.
At the same meeting Norza announced that Rosman Razak is the new head coach of the women’s doubles and will be assisted by Wong Pei Tty. Pei Tty was the previous head.
Malaysia, who qualified for the Thomas Cup Finals on merit with a top four finish in the Asian Championships, failed to reach the final in Alor Setar after losing 3-1 to China in the semi-finals.
Norza also announced that Datuk Lee Chong Wei and Lee Zii Jia are assured of a place in the Thomas Cup team together with number one doubles pair Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong. Question marks arise over second pair Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi
The BAM supremo also revealed that the third singles slot will be battle between Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin, Soong Joo Ven and Asian Junior champion and world junior silver medallist Leong Jun Hao.
Norza also announced that the two independent shuttlers from Malaysia are under investigation for alleged match fixing. No names were revealed by Norza who gave a strong warning that it is “zero tolerance” by him for match fixing. – BY RIZAL ABDULLAH
