The National Archery Association of Malaysia (NAAM) and the National Sports Council (NSC) are in the process of appointing a new head coach as they aim for Olympic medals.
NAAM president Datuk Abdul Hamid Hasan confirmed ongoing discussions and that three candidates are being considered.
He expressed hope that a new coach will be appointed soon to ensure proper planning and preparation for next year’s competitions.
“We are currently looking at candidates from South Korea, but this is still under consideration. We’re open to coaches from anywhere, but we’re looking for someone who is skilled, easy to work with, and shares our goals. Hiring from South Korea may be easier given our familiarity with their approach, but bringing in a coach from another country could present new challenges,” he said in a recent interview.
This announcement raises questions about the future of South Korean coach Lee Jae-hyung, who has led the national squad since 2001 and is also the technical director.
Jae-hyung has been pivotal in Malaysia’s Olympic qualification efforts since the Athens 2004 Games and played a key role in recurve archer Khairul Anuar Mohamad’s historic silver medal at the 2019 World Championships, Malaysia’s first world-level medal.
Abdul Hamid emphasized that NAAM’s primary focus is now on securing Olympic medals, not just qualification.
“We are not satisfied with merely qualifying; we are aiming for medals,” he said.
He also mentioned that national athletes show stronger commitment when working with foreign coaches.
“To be frank, our athletes tend to have a more standard relationship with local coaches, but they give their full trust to foreign coaches,” he added.
