BADMINTON legend Morten Frost, who is a BAM former technical director, speaks with Timesport before he leaves Malaysia next month.
QUESTION: What is going to happen, now that you have resigned?
ANSWER:I have been contacted by a few people but I have not made my decision yet. I would just like to head back to Denmark for a short while and spend time with my family. To be honest when I resigned, it wasn't because I had an offer. So we will see. For now my time is for my family, maybe travel a little.
Q: Since you came in 2015, we have seen a gradual improvement in terms of players' rankings, but after the Olympics, it seems like Malaysian badminton has taken a dip. With 2018 being a very important year, do you think things can turn around for BAM?
A: As you say, 2018 is a very important year but after every Olympics, there is always a change in generation. Usually before an Olympics, players have this huge desire of doing well. It's like they see this light at the end of the tunnel and they work hard towards it. Once the Olympics is done, they don't see that light anymore and for some they start slowing down a little and that is normal.
However, comparing Malaysia with other badminton nations, there is a little difference. In most countries, there is an established elite group of players, then a group in the middle and then the juniors. The gap between them is not great. In Malaysia though it's different. We have a good group of established players but not many in the middle. Therefore, we have to look at the juniors but that's where patience comes in. We cannot expect an overnight sensation. I do believe that the juniors can make a difference come 2020, but 2018 is going to be a tough challenge.
Q: I know you have resigned, but if there is anything you would like to still see continue as part of your legacy, what would it be?
A: I would like to see BAM having the patience to bring up the new generation. Like I said earlier, changes cannot happen overnight. When I came here in 2015, Malaysia was ranked No 10 in the world. When I left, we were No 5. The target set by the sports minister (Khairy Jamaluddin) for me was to be No 3. I still believe that it is very possible come 2020, because by then we will see a new generation of players. But BAM will need to be there for these players, to provide them with the opportunity. To give them that chance. I would like to see that.
Q: We have the Thomas Cup qualifiers in Kedah next February. How important is that tournament for the national team if they are to do well in the tournament proper in May in Bangkok?
A: I must disagree, because the last time we went into the Thomas Cup qualifier knowing we did not play the best team. We wanted to build our younger inexperienced team and people were asking if we were sure with that decision. We knew that even if we did not get the top four spot, we would still qualify for the finals based on world ranking. And we did. Our team then played really well against some of the other top teams and even if we did not qualify on merit for the finals, we gained the experience. I don't know who will be in charge next year, but the person will have to be brave to decide on whether to use the same strategy. If you speak about confidence, it shouldn't come from a tournament. It must already be in you.
Q: What about the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games next year, looking at the strength of the team Malaysia has right now?
A: actually think that Malaysia will do well at the Commonwealth Games, but it also depends on whether Lee Chong Wei plays or not because that will make a difference. It will make a lot of difference even with the team event. Take England for example, they are a balanced team but at a lower level. I strongly believe that Malaysia can do well as they are a balanced team, provided that Chong Wei is in the team. He can influence the results tremendously. India is strong in their singles, but not so in doubles, so I think think Malaysia has an edge there.
Q: Having said that, do you believe that Chong Wei holds the key to Malaysia's success next year?
A: Chong Wei will always play a very important role in the team, but I must also say that it is a very tough year. I think Malaysia must still remain ambitious in their targets and hope to perform. Like I said earlier, patience is very important and I want to see the next generation of players coming up.
Q: We also have the World Championships next year, how is it compared to the Asian Games in Jakarta?
A: The quality of the tournament is going to be very high, no doubt about that. Indonesia will go all out. However, I still feel that the World Championships in terms of badminton is still higher. I know for Malaysia, when it comes to the team, when it comes to the flag, it's a little different as compared to people in Denmark. The World Championships is when the whole world comes together, so I think both are equally tough, but the World Championships is still a little higher.
Q: We see a new wave of players, we have Viktor Axelsen of Denmark who is now world champion. We have K. Srikanth from India and Kento Momota from Japan who is slowly making a return. Where will this put players like Lin Dan, Chen Long, Chong Wei or even Jan Jorgensen in the equation?
A: There will always be the see-saw situation. We have the old guards who are actually slowing down because that is nature, you can't do anything about it. The younger players are faster, they are hungry and that is what is happening right now. They are biting at the heels but I would not disregard the old guards, as I still believe they can make a difference at tournaments. From what I see, the younger players are still not at the same consistency level as some of the old players, but one thing for sure, they are definitely slowly taking over.
Q: You have always spoken about DNA and how some players are just born with the gift. Based on your last two years here, who are some of the young players you see who do have this special trait like Lin Dan, Chong Wei or other greats?
A: I have been asked this a lot and my answer will always be this, there is a reason why some players are known as legends. You do not replace them. It doesn't happen every year. You do not replace a legend with a legend. I was part of a group in the 1980s and after that we had Peter Gade who played alongside Indonesia's Taufik Hidayat, Lin Dan and even Chong Wei. But even that took some time, it did not just happen. And from that period until now, we have not had anyone who has been as consistent. It was a gap of at least 20 years. It's very tricky, because right now I do not see anyone yet and it may take some time. It is still too early to say with the younger ones.