Behind-the-scenes man Pang ready for high-profile job

Men’s doubles coach Pang Cheh Chang has been quietly working behind the scenes at the national training centre for eight years.

However, the 37-year-old is set to be in the forefront of all the action as he takes on the highly challenging role of coaching the country’s top doubles pair of Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong.

Although there will be greater expectations and pressure, Cheh Chang says he is ready – with the blessing of national chief coach Rexy Mainaky and the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM), of course – to train Kien Keat and Boon Heong.

The duo decided to part ways with Rexy on Friday and requested to train under Cheh Chang in a bid to revive their hopes of challenging for a medal at next year’s London Olympics.

Attention, ladies: Coach Pang Cheh Chang (right) overseeing the women’s doubles players during a training session at the Juara Stadium in Bukit Kiara yesterday. — S.S. KANESAN / The Star

While Rexy has given the switch his blessings, BAM secretary Ng Chin Chai said they would listen to all parties at their coaching and training committee meeting on Thursday before finalising any changes.

Cheh Chang, still surprised but honoured by Kien Keat-Boon Heong’s request, said he would gladly take up the challenge.

“I am ready to help if the management and Rexy are agreeable to the players’ request. I will continue with what Rexy has started with Koo and Tan and I will do my best to help them end their chase for honours at the London Olympic Games,” said Cheh Chang.

“I have no personal interests in accepting the players’ request. My only intention is to help them and perform my duty to bring honour to the country.

“It will be better if all coaches work as a team to help Kien Keat-Boon Heong regain their form.”

Cheh Chang is familiar with the way Kien Keat and Boon Heong play – especially the latter.

It was, after all, Cheh Chang who spotted and roped in Boon Heong into the Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) programme after an eight-month talent scouting mission in 2003.

“I was looking for a partner for Hoon Thien How and I found Boon Heong. He was quite lazy as a junior player but we managed to transform his game. And, in just 16 months, Boon Heong went on to win the world junior title with Thien How in 2004,” said Cheh Chang.

“I had also assisted Yap Kim Hock, when he was the chief coach at the school, and I was around when Kien Keat and Ong Soon Hock triumphed at the Asian junior meet. So, I am familiar with the players and understand their characters.”

Cheh Chang was promoted to the national squad after Boon Heong-Thien How’s breakthrough world junior win.

He came under Rexy’s charge in 2006 and was given the responsibility of coaching the men’s back-up and women’s doubles players over the years.

He even assisted Rexy when Kien Keat-Boon Heong won the 2006 Doha Asian Games gold medal and the 2007 All-England title.

Last year, he was tasked with coaching the women’s doubles pairs and he did reasonably well to raise the standard of veterans Wong Pei Tty-Chin Eei Hui, Woon Khe Wei-Vivian Hoo and Lim Yin Loo-Ng Paou Leng.

“I’ve learnt a lot from Rexy. He is experienced and has different techniques and ideas and I’ve combined them with my own style of coaching,” said Cheh Chang, who holds Level Two coaching certificates and who played in both the men’s and mixed doubles events for 10 years from 1991.

“I did not do too well as a player. Those days we had a limited number of tournaments and the BAM were usually short of cash to send us out.

“Hopefully, as a coach, I will be able to see good results from my charges.

“I am looking forward to coaching Koo and Tan and working together with the National Sports Institute (NSI).

“For now, I will wait for an official decision from the management. I want to know what is going to happen to the women’s doubles shuttlers.

“Hopefully, much thought will be put into these matters before the changes are made,” added Cheh Chang, who will leave for Taiwan today to guide his women’s doubles shuttlers for the last time when the Grand Prix event starts on Wednesday.

Courtesy of The Star