KUALA LUMPUR: It takes two to tango and the onus is on Malaysia's national shuttlers to make full use of newly appointed singles head coach Kenneth Jonassen of Denmark.
This was the message from former BAM coaching director Wong Choong Hann to the shuttlers who will start training under Jonassen from Jan 4 next year.
Jonassen used to be Choong Hann's rival on court and also when the fomrer was the chief coach of Denmark.
Jonassen, 50, has been tasked to help Malaysia win gold at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. He will be in charge of world No. 29 Leong Jun Hao, Justin Hoh (No. 49), Eogene Ewe (No. 103) and Ng Tze Yong (No. 192).
Choong Hann said for the Malaysian shuttlers to succed in the manner as he did with two-time Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen and former world No. 2 Anders Antonsen, they must make the effort for Jonassen to be efficient.
"It takes two to tango," said Choong Hann, who is currently the Hong Kong head coach.
"Success can only be achieved when the players are also ready to tap the expertise of Jonassen.
"He has a proven track record in turning Axelsen into an Olympic champion and developing Antonsen into a world class player. That's a strong record to me.
"Jonassen would have seen something significant in the Malaysian shuttlers to convince him to come here and make them better players."
Choong Hann regards his former Danish rival in international tournaments as a fighter. "Jonassen has proved his quality as a player. He was always a fighter and a continuous learner who has shone throughout his career," added Choong Hann.
"He has plenty to offer to our players but he needs time to get adjusted to the environment. Let him do the job," said Choong Hann who was in Kuala Lumpur today for the launch of the 100Plus Junior Badminton Championships organised by Pioneer Sports Management.
Pioneer was jointly formed by Choong Hann, Lee Wan Wah, Chan Chong Ming and Chew Choon Eng more than a decade ago to nurture young talent.