KUALA LUMPUR: Indonesian Mulyo Handoyo and Rosman Razak are set to be announced as the head coaches of the national singles and women's doubles squads on Friday.
Mulyo is best known for transforming badminton legend Taufik Hidayat into a world and Olympic champion.
Taufik clinched the men's singles gold at the 2004 Athens Olympics and followed it up with the world title in 2005 in Anaheim, United States.
Mulyo also made his mark in India in 2017, where he guided players like Lakshya Sen (Paris Olympics semi-finalist), H.S. Prannoy and K. Srikanth — who secured four Super Series titles that year.
The Indonesian left his role in India in February 2018 and later joined Singapore.
While Denmark's Kenneth Jonassen was another candidate, the former European men's singles champion is reportedly not BAM's top choice.
National coaching director Rexy Mainaky confirmed that BAM has reached an agreement with the new head coach, who will be known as the Head of Singles, succeeding Hendrawan, who departed last week after 15 years with BAM.
Unlike Hendrawan, the new coach will oversee both the men's and women's singles squads at the Academy Badminton Malaysia (ABM).
Rexy revealed that he and BAM secretary-general Datuk Kenny Goh held a successful Zoom meeting with the candidate on Monday to finalise contract terms.
"BAM and the coach have agreed on the contract. However, the candidate asked for a few days before confirming.
"The deal is 95 per cent done, and we're hopeful to announce the coach on Friday," Rexy told the media after a training session at ABM in Bukit Kiara, today.
Regarding the women's doubles coach, Rexy noted that a candidate has also been secured but requested privacy until Friday's announcement.
"This was the candidate's request, and we have to respect it. If everything goes smoothly, I'll reveal the women's doubles coach on Friday as well," added Rexy.
Rosman, who has likely signed a contract with BAM, is currently coaching independent players.
Both new coaches are expected to begin their duties immediately after the official announcement on Friday.
The reshuffle follows the recent exits of long-serving men's singles coach Hendrawan and women's singles coach James Chua, who has taken up a role with the Czech Republic BA.
Several other coaches were also reassigned as BAM focuses on producing Malaysia's first Olympic champion at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.