Tim Jones named as BAM’s new high performance director, and Meng Yean as the new coach

Malaysia – Dr Tim Jones, a senior physiologist at the National Sports Institute (NSI), and Lee Meng Yean, a former national top women’s doubles shuttler, are the newest additions to the Badminton Association of Malaysia’s (BAM) roster.

Jones, 40, will serve as high-performance director, while Meng Yean, 27, will instruct her juniors in the women’s doubles department, according to BAM.

Jones, who has been with NSI since September 2017, was the badminton Olympic team leader at the Tokyo Olympics 2020 in July.

Jones formerly worked as a physiologist and sports scientist for the British Sailing Team from 2012 to 2015, as well as a technical teacher at the University of Brighton (2011-2012).

“In his new capacity, Tim will be responsible for strategic performance planning as well as strengthening the solid foundations currently in place. Through a rigorous, strategic approach, the selection was made to assure continuous on-court excellence at the international level,” according to the statement.

Meanwhile, Meng Yean, the captain of the 2020 Uber Cup, will join head coach Hoon Thien How in bolstering the women’s doubles department.

According to BAM, following the recent success of the Badminton Asia Team Championships (BATC) 2022, the association will continue to seek opportunities to strengthen the technical department in order to harness the potential of the motivated, youthful squad at the Akademi Badminton Malaysia (ABM).

Meng Yean and her former partner Chow Mei Kuan, who won bronze at the 2019 SEA Games, are still the country’s top-ranked pair, ranking 11th in the globe, according to the Badminton World Federation (BWF).

Meng Yean left the national team at the end of last month after attempting a partnership with several junior players. Mei Kuan retired shortly after the national team’s group stage exit at the Olympics, while Meng Yean left the national team at the end of last month after attempting a partnership with several junior players.