Kenneth Jonassen: I couldn't resist once in a lifetime opportunity to coach in Malaysia

The Dane was officially unveiled as the Badminton Association of Malaysia latest coaching staff on Monday, and said he was drawn to the opportunity after being contacted by national coaching director Rexy Mainaky.

“I have always been a fan of Malaysian badminton, I know the way the sport is treated here. A phone call from Rexy got my mind started that this is a possibility.

Stay tuned as we bring you an exclusive interview with Coach Kenneth! ? Get ready to hear his thoughts, plans and vision for Malaysian singles. Don’t miss it!#GemilangkanLagi#BadmintonMalaysia#DemiMalaysia pic.twitter.com/JcyY0yRPQ8

— BAM (@BA_Malaysia) November 25, 2024

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“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity, I cannot wait to get started,” said the 50-year-old former Danish shuttler, who added the current crop of shuttlers in the national stable that includes Ng Tze Yong, Leong Jun Hao and Justin Hoh formed part of his decision to accept the role.

“What inspires you as a coach is to work with talented players, to see the possibility of them going far and to see them reach their full capacity.”

Jonassen, whose four-year contract starts from January 4, 2025, was naturally asked about delivering a gold medal at the LA2028.

He said : “It is the ultimate goal to win the big ones. Four years is a long journey from now. If we are going to do it by 2028, we will have to see what we can do in the coming three years in 2025, 2026 and 2027.

“If we are to reach that goal, it will be a team effort. We need honesty and hard work, 24/7 365 days a year to get the Olympic gold.”

Johanssen was hired primarily for his 13-year efforts with the Danish national badminton team, which also saw him play a vital role in Viktor Axelsen winning the 2020 Tokyo Olympics gold.

As a player, Jonassen reached a career high world number two ranking and won the German, Korean, Dutch and Singapore Open.