Yesterday, the 18-year-old decided to stay faithful to his father cum fulltime coach Zulkifli Sidek as he begins his journey as a senior player - aspiring to become the Olympic and world champion and natural successor to world number one Lee Chong Wei.
Some have urged Zulfadli to try a new coaching style under a new trainer to raise his game to the next level. Some have even suggested that he should join the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) banner so as to get a chance to spar with Chong Wei regularly to speed up his development.
But Zulfadli has chosen to remain an independent player for now. He confirmed that he had no immediate plans to move his training base or switch allegiance to another mentor.
“I am fine with my father as coach,” said Zulfadli on arriving home to a hero’s welcome at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) yesterday. “Afterall, he has coached me all my life. I owe all my success so far to my father. I am confident he can steer me to the pinnacle at senior level as well.
One for the album: BAM president Datuk Seri Nadzmi Mohd Salleh (back row, fourth from left) posing for a group photo with the triumphant Malaysian junior shuttlers who were given a heroes’ welcome at the KL International Airport in Sepang yesterday. – BRIAN MOH / The Star“Of course, things will have to change. I will have to increase the intensity of training to cope with the more demanding challenges in the world of the big boys,” added Zulfadli, who was born in Los Angeles while his father was a coach with the United States Olympic badminton team from 1991-1992.
Zulfadli, currently ranked a lowly 207 in the rankings, defeated defending champion and world No. 43 Viktor Axelsen of Denmark on Sunday to become the country’s first junior world champion in the sport.
His 53-year-old father, a former coaching director with the National Sports Council (MSN), said he would have to chart a new course for his eldest son.
“I am happy to be his personal coach. It is a dream come true seeing him scale the heights and do the nation proud. I am not boasting but I have the necessary credentials and knowledge to take him to the very top,” he said.
Zulkifli said that early exposure to international tournaments and sparring with many top players had benefitted Zulfadli. He thanked their sponsors - especially professional club KLRC - for having faith and taking a gamble with a young talent like Zulfadli.
“Zulfadli was 11 years old when he took part in his first junior international tournament. By 13, he had already won several titles. All that exposure gave him an edge,” said Zulkifli.
Sparring sessions with his KLRC team-mates - former national players Mohd Hafiz Hashim, Wong Choong Hann, Tan Chun Seang and international shuttler Nguyen Tien Minh of Vietnam - prior to the world junior meet obviously did him a world of good. As did the month-long centralised programme with the BAM players and quality matches with the national back-up team.
“There’s nothing wrong in Zulfadli enjoying the best of both worlds. He can still be an independent player and spar with those in the national set–up,” said dad.
“I hope BAM will let my son train at least twice a week with Chong Wei. Zulfadli will progress a lot faster and the country will surely benefit from this. We can have grand plans but it all depends on Zulfadli. His future is in his hands,” he said.
BAM president Datuk Seri Nadzmi Mohd Salleh said they would look into the request for Zulfadli to spar with Chong Wei regularly as he believed in an amicable partnership among all the stakeholders in the game.
“Chong Wei has his own schedule and plans. But this is something we can look into because the future of badminton and the interest of the nation come first,” said Nadzmi.
“We also hope that Zulfadli will look into the option of training under different coaches. The challenges will get bigger and it is important that Zulfadli is managed in the right way.”
But as dad Zulkifli said, Zulfadli will be the master of his own fate.
No comments:
Post a Comment