KUALA LUMPUR: Former national junior coach Zhang Hong Yu believes Malaysia have many young shuttlers with talent.
Having served the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) for more than two decades, the China-born Hong Yu believes the players bound for the Asian Junior Championships (AJC) in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, next week have what it takes to achieve podium finishes.
The AJC will kick-off with the mixed team event on July 7, while the individual event starts on July 12.
Malaysia are in Group C with India, Bangladesh and Hong Kong for the team event.
Speaking to Timesport recently, Hong Yu said: "I really hope to see the juniors finishing on the podium.
"However, they need to stay focused and get to the quarter-finals first."
Only the top two teams from each group will reach the last eight stage.
Hong Yu, who recently joined Duo Sparks — a badminton academy founded by former internationals Daphne Ng and Sabrina Chong, previously coached some of the players who will head to Yogyakarta.
Among them were Ong Xin Yee, Siti Zulaikha Azmi, Carmen Ting, Lai Ting Chen, and Chong Jie Yu.
Hong Yu was first roped into the national setup in 1996 under then head coach Han Jian.
In 2001, she was transferred to the junior team, where she coached until her recent resignation in March.
Given her love and passion for the sport, Hong Yu wishes to continue her good work outside with Daphne and Sabrina.
"Daphne and Sabrina give me the confidence to collaborate with Duo Sparks. We share the same vision — to grow the talent pool at the grassroots level.
"Malaysia is not short of junior talent. I want to help produce more young players," she added.
Hong Yu also actively scouts for young players at the grassroots level.