Star badminton duo Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty are all set to get a boost as Malaysian coach Tan Kim Her makes his much-anticipated return to the Indian fold. The duo, currently ranked among the world’s best, are all set to resume their training under Tan after Danish coach Mathias Boe left his post.
Tan’s return with the Indian duo comes as no surprise as the Malaysian was instrumental in the duo’s success the last time around. His expertise and strategic coaching helped the duo’s rise on the global stage.
The pair had achieved remarkable success under Tan’s mentorship, including several podiumfinishes at tournaments.
Indian badminton fans were left heartbroken as expectations were high for the Indian duo at the Paris Olympics 2024, but an unfortunate quarterfinal exit ended their hopes of a medal. The duo were under the mentorship of Boe during their average run in Paris.
It has been confirmed that Tan will not only focus on Sat-Chi’s development, but will also extend his expertise to other up-and-coming doubles players, both men’s and women’s. His role will also include monitoring the progress of India’s doubles contingent, pushing a larger strategy of improving the country’s standing in international badminton.
Tan had previously served as the men’s doubles coach for the Japanese team and has a reputation for being one of the sport’s top strategists. He also has a proven track record of developing players capable of being the world’s best.
The Sports Authority of India (SAI), according to a report by The Times of India, is offering the Malaysian coach a lucrative contract worth $10,000 per month.
As the duo prepares to get back in action next week, the badminton world will be watching closely, eager to show how Tan’s return influences their performance and how they bounce back after the Paris heartbreak.
