PETALING JAYA: Newly appointed Ireland men’s singles coach Yeoh Seng Zoe (pic) knows he has big shoes to fill following the departure of Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin, but he is ready to take on the challenge.

The 27-year-old was handed the role after Iskandar decided to take up the position of women’s singles coach with the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM).

Seng Zoe was no stranger to Irish badminton, having already been based there as a sparring partner for national No. 1 Nhat Nguyen before gradually transitioning into coaching, first with the junior squad.

Now entrusted with leading the national team, Seng Zoe admitted he was both excited and surprised to be given the opportunity to take charge of a fast-rising side making waves not only in Europe but also on the World Tour.

With Iskandar set to begin his new role in Malaysia on Oct 1, Seng Zoe is determined to make the most of the next three months by learning as much as he can to prepare himself for the responsibilities ahead.

“I started off handling the junior squad, but now I’ve been appointed as the national team coach, which comes with greater responsibilities. It’s a big challenge for me, but also a valuable opportunity, and I hope to do well.

“I want to learn as much as I can from Iskandar, not just about on-court training, but also how to manage the players better.”

“I know it’ll be tough because he has taken Irish badminton to the next level, but I’ll do my best to fill his shoes,”,” said Seng Zoe.

For Seng Zoe, the opportunity given by Badminton Ireland is one he truly values, knowing that his own journey in the sport has been anything but smooth.

Although he was once crowned the national Under-18 champion in 2015, he struggled with form and eventually made the bold decision to leave BAM in 2017 to pursue a professional career.

“As a player, I didn’t achieve much, but now I hope to help other players reach their dreams as a coach,” he added.