Chong Wei confident Jonassen-Seu Bock team will revive singles department

KUALA LUMPUR: BAM Performance Committee chairman Datuk Seri Lee Chong Wei said the appointment of Tey Seu Bock as national men's senior singles coach was upon the request of Kenneth Jonassen.

Chong Wei believes the combination of Seu Bock and national singles coaching director Jonassen would help revive the department and groom shuttlers beyond the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Seu Bock was assistant to former national coach Datuk Misbun Sidek in 2002 and started coaching Chong Wei, with Datuk Rashid Sidek, from 2011 to 2015. He also served as the women's singles coach, guiding Goh Jin Wei (2017) and S. Kisona (2019) to SEA Games gold medals. Seu Bock served as the national junior singles chief from January last year.

"Yes, the proposal came from Kenneth. He wanted Seu Bock to return to the national senior team to assist him. Based on my experience, Seu Bock is very good overall," said Chong Wei.

"He did well in the junior set-up as well — you can see a lot of improvement among the junior players. Even when he was handling the juniors, he often discussed matters with me.

"Right now, what we really need is development. We already know who will be heading to the 2028 and 2032 Olympics. That core group is more or less fixed and there are not many changes.

"We must focus now on the younger generation because that is what matters most. For the 2028 Olympics, maybe we have players like (Leong) Jun Hao, Justin (Hoh), Eogene (Ewe) — at most two players? So for 2032 and 2036, we have to start planning from now," said Chong Wei.

Three-time Olympic silver medallist Chong Wei is confident that Seu Bock's promotion will work as he believes Jonassen has an effective plan for the singles players.

"Kenneth has a good plan for all players and the overall structure.

"We may fast-track them (juniors) directly into the national team. We now have a new rule that allows this, and they no longer need to wait until they finish school at 17 before joining the national senior team.

"This opportunity is not just for singles players. It applies to all departments — mixed doubles, women's singles and others. If we see a player with a future, we may bring them directly into the national team."

Seu Bock has started working with the senior players after the Thailand SEA Games last month. He also guided world No. 28 Jun Hao at the recent Malaysia Open where he lost in the second round.