PETALING JAYA: It is normal for athletes to be over the moon to compete at the Olympics but national men’s doubles coach Tan Bin Shen is also super charged to get a lifetime chance of being part of the Games in Paris.
Bin Shen will be guiding world No. 5 Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik from July 26-Aug 11 and that marks an end to his wait for more than two decades to be at the Olympics stage.
A silver medallist at the 2002 World Junior Championships with Jack Koh, Bin Shen had partnered the late Gan Teik Chai, Ong Soon Hock, Ng Kean Kok and even Scottish player Robert Blair on selected tournaments as an independent player.
But he never came close to playing in the Olympics.
Bin Shen, 40, has been playing a significant role in guiding Aaron-Wooi Yik after Rexy Mainaky was made the national coaching director last year.
The Indonesian, who overlooks the entire programme, has often said that Bin Shen has the potential to become a calibre coach and had often allowed his understudy to travel to Badminton World Federation (BWF) tour events to guide Aaron-Wooi Yik.
Earning Rexy and the players’ trust is possibly the reason why Bin Shen has received one of the five Olympics accreditation. “As a badminton player, it was one of my dreams to play at the Olympics but I couldn’t achieve that but as a coach I continued to try and produce players who can play at the stage,” said Bin Shen.
“I am happy to be involved in the preparation of Aaron-Wooi Yik. There is no pressure actually on me and it is a honour be part of the Olympics as a coach.
“I think Aaaron-Wooi Yik are almost at their best as they have been pushing hard in training and we are looking forward to the Games.”
Hoon Thien How (women’s doubles), Nova Widianto (mixed doubles) and Wong Tat Meng (Lee Zii Jia’s coach) are the other coaches besides Rexy who will travel to Paris.
Goh Jin Wei’s coach Nova Armada missed the boat due to limited accreditation but Rexy has promised to look after the shuttler and provide her with all assistance during the competition in Paris.