PETALING JAYA — “I’m not God,” said Datuk Seri Lee Chong Wei, after officially being appointed chairman of the Badminton Association of Malaysia’s (BAM) Performance Committee today.
The three-time Olympic silver medallist said fans must be realistic about his new role and the challenges facing national badminton, stressing that results depend on the players, not him alone.
“I’m here to help, but I’m not the one playing on court. Coaches design the training programmes, but it’s the players who must deliver. If a player keeps defending when told to attack, what can I do?” he said after the BAM council meeting in Petaling Jaya.
Chong Wei said his priority would be to work closely with the coaching team to identify problems faced by players and find practical solutions.
“If a player has issues with a coach or something off-court is affecting their focus, I’ll step in to help resolve it. My job is to make sure players can concentrate fully on training and competition.”
The former world No. 1 also rubbished growing speculation about men’s singles head coach Kenneth Jonassen’s future, following recent criticism on social media over Malaysia’s lack of results.
“People need to be fair to Kenneth,” Chong Wei said firmly.
“He came in when men’s singles were already struggling, not after. We knew before he arrived that we lacked depth in talent. He didn’t cause this situation.”
Chong Wei said the Danish coach had only been with BAM for about nine months and deserved more time to build a solid foundation.
“You can’t expect him to change everything in one year. Give him a full term — about four years — to find and develop new players.”
He added that Malaysia’s current pool, led by Leong Jun Hao and Justin Hoh, was still maturing, while Ng Tze Yong is still recovering from knee surgery.
“Right now, we have to give them and Kenneth time. This is part of a rebuilding phase,” he said.
Chong Wei also noted that Jonassen’s European training methods differ from those in Asia, and players need time to adapt.
“Some coaches focus on quality rather than long sessions. It takes time for players to adjust to new systems.”
He stressed that patience and cooperation were key to long-term success.
“If Kenneth came in when we were winning and suddenly results dropped, then fine — criticise him. But he arrived when results were already poor. We must accept that and work together to rebuild.”
“Everyone expects quick success, but there are no shortcuts in badminton. Give the coaches and players time — that’s how we build champions again.” — October 18, 2025
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