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Kota Kinabalu: Tan Seng Hoe, a dedicated badminton enthusiast, has made significant contributions to Malaysia’s badminton scene, it has been reported.

Not only is he the father of Malaysia’s women’s doubles player Pearly Tan, but he also once played a crucial role as the mentor of Malaysia’s men’s singles player Lee Zii Jia, Nanyang Siang Pau reported.

Tan said he is not a professional player but has a strong passion for badminton. 

“I enjoy playing badminton. I am not a professional player. By playing and teaching badminton, I managed to train them,” he said in the interview uploaded to Facebook page Mssports.

This was Tan’s first visit to China and he was excited to bring his young players to broaden their horizons and gain experience.

He also commented on two of the top badminton athletes sent to the Paris 2024 who were once under his training.  

“My daughter (Pearly Tan) had a weaker constitution, so her early training focused more on techniques, hand agility, power strokes, and jump smashes. 

“Lee Zii Jia, on the other hand, was the smart and energetic type from a young age,” Tan said.

Tan was interviewed during the 2024 Lin Dan Cup Badminton Open in Chenzhou, China, last month. 

One of his young players, Lim En Yu, who has been training for five years, finished as the runner up in the championship's youth Group B girls’ singles final.

Tan expressed his enthusiasm for future competitions.

“I will likely participate again (in China). This is my hobby. I love taking young players to various competitions,” he said.