Talent aplenty: Top badminton coach tips Pakistan for success

International badminton coach Ho Khek Mong believes Pakistan has plenty of talent and has tipped the country’s players to perform well at international level, provided they receive professional training.

Mong, who recently trained Swat-based Faisal Saeed, Shahid Ahmad and Abdul Basit for one month at Ampang Jaya Centre in Malaysia, had high praise for his newest pupils.

“The three players made a great effort to learn during their one-month training here,” said Mong, who also approved of the trio’s professionalism.

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The Pakistani trio was just as effusive in their praise for their new coaches and spoke fondly of their visit to Malaysia.

“It was a great experience for us to learn from professional coaches and test ourselves against Malaysian players. It gave us a lot of confidence,” said Basit, with Ahmad adding, “Attending the one-month professional training program will help us boost our playing skills.”

Meanwhile, Saeed highlighted the differences between the nature of training in Pakistan and Malaysia. “Pakistani coaches stress on physical training, while trainers in Malaysia focus both on playing skills along with physical training,” he noted.

They said this disparity in training methods leads to a vast difference in the way badminton is played in both the nations.

The Swati boys also urged the government to take the game of badminton seriously and send more players to foreign countries for professional training.

(Source: Express Tribune)