KUALA LUMPUR: The days of national men's singles coaches Hendrawan, Tey Seu Bock, and James Chua at the BA of Malaysia (BAM) could be numbered, as the national body looks to adopt a different approach next year.
Speculation is rife that their contracts may not be renewed at the end of the year.
It also remains to be seen whether this will involve only one coach or several.
On Tuesday, BAM advertised that they are seeking to hire a men's singles coach for the national senior squad.
Its head of administration, Michelle Chai, clarified that this move is an early step in anticipation of potential changes after the 2024 Paris Olympics.
She added that the association is exploring all available options to strengthen the national team's coaching structure.
Michelle further explained that the services of Hendrawan, Seu Bock, and James are still required at least until the end of this year.
"This is part of our process. Usually, we conduct a review at the end of each year. So, we want to make early preparations for any eventualities rather than waiting until the last minute to act.
"For now, Hendrawan, Seu Bock, and James will continue their duties as usual. If a new coach is appointed, they will start in January next year," said Michelle.
Regarding the number of new coaches to be appointed, Michelle said it has not been decided yet.
She added that it will depend on the evaluation after the Paris Olympics.
"We will assess whether to maintain the same structure or make changes. It also depends on the number of players we have. If we decide to retain only four players, we might hire one coach, and if we keep 10 players, we might hire three coaches," she said.
For the record, Indonesian Hendrawan has been with BAM since 2009, while Seu Bock, who played a pivotal role in guiding former world No. 1 Lee Chong Wei to three Olympic silver medals, began his role in 2002.
Former Malaysia Open champion James joined the national setup in 2022.
Michelle also did not rule out the possibility of BAM releasing their senior players to turn professional next year.
"There is a possibility. We are considering various ideas at the moment and are open to all options. Perhaps if we release all the players, we won't need coaches anymore. Many factors will be taken into consideration, so we need to be prepared for any possibility," she added.