PETALING JAYA: To produce another world junior champion in less than a year is a challenging task but coach Yap Kim Hock is really up to it.
The junior tournaments at the Asian and world levels have been brought forward to the first half of the year, giving the Bukit Jalil Sports School doubles coach less time to work with his charges.
But, Kim Hock is not surprised nor perturbed.
This year, the Asian Junior Championships will take place at Stadium Juara in Bukit Kiara from March 21-28 while the World Junior will be held in Guadalajara, Mexico, from April 18-25.
These tournaments are usually held in the second half of the year.
The Asian junior meet was rescheduled because it offers ranking points for the players to qualify for the Olympic Youth Games in Singapore in August.
Just three months ago, Ow Yao Han-Chooi Kah Ming emerged as the boys’ doubles champions at the world junior meet in Kedah.
Yao Han-Yew Hong Kheng were runners-up in the boys’ doubles at the Asian junior meet in July and they were also members of the team that bagged the mixed team title.
Kim Hock said that although the focus would be on Yao Han-Hong Kheng, he hoped to see emerging talent come through the junior events.
“We are not surprised by the decision (to bring forward the junior events),” said Kim Hock
“We have a long-term plan and I have confidence in the group of juniors that we have.”
“The players have already been training and are being groomed to peak at these tournaments.
“The focus is on Yao Han-Hong Kheng but, I think, we have depth in the junior doubles and I will not be surprised if a new pair does well too.”
The other boys’ doubles pairs in centralised training are Nelson Heg-Teo Eei Ei, Sant Enos-Kelvin Ong, Tan Wee Tat-Goh Sze Onn and Marcel Simon-Lim Chun Ming.
“Our goal is to produce an Asian or a world junior champion again,” said Kim Hock.
“This group of players will also be sent for satellite and junior international tournaments so as to build their confidence and character.
“It is a challenge to keep producing young talents for the elite team but, so far, I am enjoying it.”
The junior tournaments at the Asian and world levels have been brought forward to the first half of the year, giving the Bukit Jalil Sports School doubles coach less time to work with his charges.
But, Kim Hock is not surprised nor perturbed.
This year, the Asian Junior Championships will take place at Stadium Juara in Bukit Kiara from March 21-28 while the World Junior will be held in Guadalajara, Mexico, from April 18-25.
These tournaments are usually held in the second half of the year.
The Asian junior meet was rescheduled because it offers ranking points for the players to qualify for the Olympic Youth Games in Singapore in August.
Just three months ago, Ow Yao Han-Chooi Kah Ming emerged as the boys’ doubles champions at the world junior meet in Kedah.
Yao Han-Yew Hong Kheng were runners-up in the boys’ doubles at the Asian junior meet in July and they were also members of the team that bagged the mixed team title.
Kim Hock said that although the focus would be on Yao Han-Hong Kheng, he hoped to see emerging talent come through the junior events.
“We are not surprised by the decision (to bring forward the junior events),” said Kim Hock
“We have a long-term plan and I have confidence in the group of juniors that we have.”
“The players have already been training and are being groomed to peak at these tournaments.
“The focus is on Yao Han-Hong Kheng but, I think, we have depth in the junior doubles and I will not be surprised if a new pair does well too.”
The other boys’ doubles pairs in centralised training are Nelson Heg-Teo Eei Ei, Sant Enos-Kelvin Ong, Tan Wee Tat-Goh Sze Onn and Marcel Simon-Lim Chun Ming.
“Our goal is to produce an Asian or a world junior champion again,” said Kim Hock.
“This group of players will also be sent for satellite and junior international tournaments so as to build their confidence and character.
“It is a challenge to keep producing young talents for the elite team but, so far, I am enjoying it.”
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