KUALA LUMPUR: The national women's singles shuttlers will get the touch of Li Mao, regarded as one of the best coaches in the world, through his former student James Chua.
Li Mao is best remembered as one of the coaches who turned former world No 1 Lee Chong Wei into a world-beater.
Now, returning as singles coach with the BA of Malaysia (BAM), 43-year-old former international James wants to impart his knowledge to the younger generation.
On Monday, the national body confirmed the appointment of James as a singles coach for the women's shuttlers.
James, who was head coach (singles) with the Sarawak BA over the last couple of years, will fill the void left by former women's singles head coach Indra Wijaya, who left the national stable earlier this year to join world No 5 Lee Zii Jia as his coach.
James, who won the Malaysia Open in 2002, said: "I have always been in touch with BAM. I was earlier approached by the national body to join as a junior coach.
"However, the deal fell through due to restructuring, and I remained in Kuching.
"However, when this new opportunity came around, I took it.
"For two years (2006-2008), I was under Li Mao's programme as a player. Technically, he was very good, and I learned a lot from him. I want to impart that knowledge — Li Mao's philosophy — to the younger players."
After hanging up his racquet quietly in 2008, James went on to open his own badminton academy in Kepong with another former international, Yap Kim Hock, who is now the chief coach with the Singapore BA.
James was also involved with the Badminton World Federation (BWF) Training Centre in Germany for three months in 2009.
On what he hopes to achieve with the national team, James added: "Badminton has always been a part of me. My best years as a player were between 2001-2003, but after that, I had injuries.
"I'm really looking forward to working alongside Wong Choong Hann, who is also a product of Li Mao.
"I will be working closely with the women's singles department, which consists of many young players, but from time to time, I will also overlook the men's players."
James, currently in Kuching, will officially report for duty on July 18.
The national women's singles squad comprise 2019 Sea Games champion S. Kisona, Eoon Qi Xuan, Myisha Khairul, Siti Nurshuhaini Azman, Khor Jing Wen, Joanne Ng, Loh Zhi Wei and Tan Zhing Yi.
Following the departure of Indra in February, the women's singles department has been under the care of Loh Wei Sheng.
Li Mao was the national singles coach and helped in Chong Wei's progress, beginning in 2005 but quit in 2007 to join his former employers South Korea.
A year after leaving the national team, the 64-year-old slammed BAM's training attitude for hampering the nation from producing world class shuttlers.
He is now a consultant of the China BA.