Badminton: Kelvin Ho takes over as Singapore’s singles head coach

SINGAPORE – Former nationwide shuttler Kelvin Ho is Singapore badminton’s new national singles mentor.

Formerly the assistant to Indonesian Mulyo Handoyo, who stepped down in February, Ho’s promotion by the Singapore Badminton Association (SBA) usually takes put with quick result.

He will oversee the progress of the eight countrywide singles players – Loh Kean Yew, Jason Teh and Joel Koh from the men’s team and Yeo Jia Min, Jaslyn Hooi, Nur Insyirah Khan, Grace Chua and Megan Lee from the women’s team.

Ho, who is with the nationwide players in Suncheon for this week’s Korea Open up, thanked Mulyo for his advice and the SBA for the opportunity.

He included: “It really is an honour to be appointed nationwide singles head mentor. I’m fired up about what lies forward and we have some gifted gamers in the pathway. Developing them together with the top players is of paramount great importance.

“Of system, Kean Yew and Jia Min are the most important concentrate for the 2024 Olympics, but there are also other players who can problem for these positions.”

It is understood that a lot more than 20 community and worldwide candidates applied for the position. Five coaches from Europe and Asia have been shortlisted and interviewed by a panel of six from the SBA and Singapore Sporting activities Institute, in advance of Ho landed the occupation.

SBA president Lawrence Leow said: “The SBA went by a thorough approach to find the greatest human being among the candidates and Kelvin’s knowing of the gamers and his experience will assistance elevate the normal of our countrywide shuttlers.

“We are self-assured that below his tutelage, the singles gamers will continue on to development and excel equally on and off the court docket.”

Ho was unveiled as a nationwide player in 2011, and went on to grow to be just one of the nationwide intermediate squad’s coaches. In 2018, he took on the purpose of assistant countrywide singles coach.

When international badminton activities resumed in 2021 amid the pandemic, the 31-yr-old has been in the countrywide singles players’ corner at tournaments, including the Tokyo Olympics. Most notably, he oversaw Loh’s spectacular World Championships-profitable run and Yeo’s participation in the prestigious Badminton World Federation Environment Tour Finals past year.

The SBA will choose his new assistant when he returns from South Korea.

SBA main executive officer Alan Ow shared its anticipations of him, stating: “We want a coach who can direct the singles programme for not just the major gamers but also keep building and nurturing players on the functionality pathway.

“Conversation is vital at all degrees but we will need to make positive that all players know what is envisioned of them and they know where by they stand. Regional awareness is crucial and understanding of the players is crucial as we go into a calendar year of important Video games.

“Winning medals at the impending important Game titles is essential, and we have the players to do that, but basically it is about acquiring the players and operating with them to achieve outcomes to their the best possible possible.”