The Star Online: Sports
The Star Online: Sports |
- Czechs win seven-hour epic, Spain hang on
- Kim Hock’s new academy aim to churn out more junior champions
- Kim Hock: Stop changing coaches and their roles
| Czechs win seven-hour epic, Spain hang on Posted: 02 Feb 2013 06:21 PM PST [unable to retrieve full-text content]PARIS: Tomas Berdych and Lukas Rosol won a Davis Cup doubles epic on Saturday to give defending champions Czech Republic the edge over Switzerland as 2012 finalists Spain stayed alive in Canada. |
| Kim Hock’s new academy aim to churn out more junior champions Posted: 02 Feb 2013 03:22 PM PST PANDAMARAN: Former international Yap Kim Hock produced three world junior doubles champions when he was a coach with Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM). Now that he is no longer with BAM, he continues to relish the challenge of churning out more junior stars. The 42-year-old Kim Hock is hopeful of doing just that through his new YKH Academy in Pandamaran. A total of 50 children aged between 7 and 12 years old from the Kampung Idaman Primary School attended the official launch of his academy and the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games doubles silver medallist with Cheah Soon Kit was beaming with joy. "It's a new life for me. I have my own academy and I can focus on producing more champions," said Kim Hock, who has turned a huge godown into a 12-court centre. The stocky shuttler decided to run his own academy when BAM did not extend his contract last year. It marked the end of Kim Hock's 12-year service as a coach with the national team and also soured his relationship with the national body. "I was disappointed with BAM's decision. They may have their own reasons for ending my service ... it's their prerogative. You cannot force someone to keep you," said Kim Hock. "I know that I had given my best and enjoyed my 12 years in BAM." Kim Hock, however, prefers not to dwell on the past and would rather work on raising the standard of his students. "I also have several former state shuttlers under my academy. In the evenings, it is open for public use. I will use my experience and skills to inspire the youngsters under my care. I may not be in the limelight anymore but this work here is still rewarding," he said. Kim Hock started as a BJSS coach in 2001 and was promoted to become national coach in 2003. Two years later, he became the chief coach. Despite ensuring that Malaysia returned home with one silver at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing through Lee Chong Wei, Kim Hock was demoted to coaching BJSS in 2009. It did not dampen his spirit. In fact, he exceeded all expectations by producing three consecutive world junior champions – Chooi Kah Ming-Ow Yao Han (2009), Yao Han-Yew Hong Kheng (2010) and Nelson Heg Wei Keat-Teo Ee Yi (2011). Kim Hock showed that he hasn't lost much of his skill when he partnered former international Chow Pak Chuu in an exhibition match against professionals Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari-Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif yesterday. Although Kim Hock-Pak Chuu lost, the match drew thunderous applause from the young audience. |
| Kim Hock: Stop changing coaches and their roles Posted: 02 Feb 2013 04:22 PM PST PANDAMARAN: Malaysia have not reached the men's doubles final in the Olympic Games since Yap Kim Hock-Cheah Soon Kit won the silver medal at the 1996 Atlanta Games – a good 17 years ago. And Kim Hock feels that Malaysia's men's doubles will continue to hit a brick wall if the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) continue to chop and change their coaches frequently. He hopes that their latest catch – Indonesian Paulus Firman, who started work on Feb 1 – would be given enough time and ample support to work with the players. "Stop changing the coaches and their roles in the national men's doubles set-up regularly. Give the coaches the time to work with the players. By changing coaches regularly, they are not being fair to the players. Imagine the number of times that the players have to adjust to the changes," said Kim Hock. The 42-year-old Kim Hock's heart also went out for Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong. "They were under Rexy Mainaky for some time. After that, they were moved around under three other coaches – Pang Cheh Chang, Yoo Yong-sung and Tan Kim Her – for short stints. Let's hope that Paulus will be given a longer mandate to work with this pair. "Usually, a coach needs two years to groom a pair ... one cannot expect immediate results," said Kim Hock after officially launching his new training centre – YKH Academy – in Pandamaran, Klang. He has signed a partnership with the nearby Kampung Idaman Primary School and is currently coaching 50 students aged between 7 and 12 years old every Saturday. Kim Hock, who was a coach with BAM for 12 years until 2012, hoped that Kien Keat-Boon Heong's fortunes would change under Paulus. Besides Kien Keat-Boon Heong, the other pairs under the Indonesian's care are Hoon Thien How-Tan Wee Kiong and Tan Wee Gieen-Mohd Lutfi Zaim Abdul Khalid. All the other pairs, especially the three promising ones – Lim Khim Wah-Goh V Shem, Chooi Kah Ming-Ow Yao Han and Nelson Heg Wei Keat-Teo Ee Yi – are training under chief coach Tan Kim Her. "I've worked with some of these boys when I was the coach at Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) ... they are a talented group. Most of them have won world junior titles and all they need now is a proper guidance to facilitate their transition from juniors to seniors," he said. Under Kim Hock, Malaysia produced three straight world junior champions – Kah Ming-Yao Han (2009), Yao Han-Yew Hong Kheng (2010) and Nelson Heg Wei Keat-Teo Ee Yi (2011). "This batches should be groomed for gold medals at the 2020 Olympic Games. The others like Koo-Tan, Khim Wah-V Shem and Thien How-Wee Kiong should be aiming for medals at the 2016 Games in Rio. "I always believe that there should be healthy rivalry between the seniors and juniors. It'll keep the seniors on their toes and speed up the progress of the younger pairs. "Hopefully, one of the pairs will do better than me (and Soon Kit) at the Olympic Games. That'll be a proud day for me – and the nation." |
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