This was announced by BAM president Mohamad Norza Zakaria at a special press conference after chairing BAM’s extraordinary general meeting (EGM) today.

Norza said BAM had examined several other names before making the decision as well as looking at the situation in terms of the financial and current situation of the association.

“We have short-listed three other candidates. Eventually, all agreed to appoint Choong Hann for the post.

“We are looking for a coaching director who is able to adapt to the current environment of the training structure and coaches in BAM,” he said.

Commenting further, Norza, who is also president of the Olympic Council of Malaysia (MOM), said BAM’s gamble by appointing Choong Hann was for preparing the national squad to face the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

“His main task should be to help the national squad pursue the country’s first gold medal in the Olympics.

“However, to set the KPI (key performance indicators), we need to sit and talk with him because I believe Choong Hann also wishes to see the current situation in terms of player performances,” he said.

For the record, Choong Hann’s numerous victories in tournaments included a silver medal in the World Championships in Birmingham, England, in 2003 and twice helping the squad to qualify for the final in the Thomas Cup (1998, 2002).

He was the world number one player in August 2002 in the World Badminton Federation (BWF) ranking.