KUALA LUMPUR: Former Denmark head coach Kenneth Jonassen has reportedly emerged as the top candidate for the national coaching role at the BA of Malaysia (BAM).
The 50-year-old is expected to take on dual responsibilities as head coach for both the men's and women's singles squads.
Highly respected within the sport, Jonassen played a crucial role in the success of Denmark's world No. 1 Viktor Axelsen.
Under Jonassen's guidance, Axelsen clinched his first Olympic gold medal in Tokyo in 2021 and the world title in 2017 in Glasgow.
Jonassen has also been instrumental in developing other world-class Danish players, including Anders Antonsen and Rasmus Gemke.
If appointed, Jonassen will be supported by two assistant coaches, K. Yogendran and Alvin Chew, for the men's singles, while Jeffer Rosobin and Misbun Ramdan Misbun will assist with the women's singles.
The current national men's singles players Ng Tze Yong, Leong Jun Hao, Justin Hoh and Eogene Ewe, with two additional players expected to be promoted from the junior squad.
The women's singles squad comprise K. Letshanaa, Wong Ling Ching, Oo Shan Zi and Siti Zulaikha Azmi.
Jonassen would be offered a four-year contract extending through to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
Other names reportedly on BAM's shortlist include Indonesia's Mulyo Handoyo, Spain's Fernando Rivas and Wong Tat Meng, who currently coaches world No. 6 Lee Zii Jia.
Mulyo is best known for guiding Indonesian legend Taufik Hidayat to Olympic gold in Athens 2004 and a world title in Anaheim, USA.
Rivas, currently Spain's women's singles coach, helped Carolina Marin secure Olympic gold at Rio 2016 and three world titles in 2014 (Copenhagen), 2015 (Jakarta), and 2018 (Nanning).
BAM is expected to make the final announcement on the new head coach on Nov 25.