Former national shuttler James Chua appointed Sarawak badminton head coach

James Chua (left) receives his letter of appointment as Sarawak badminton head coach from Sarawak Badminton Association (SBA) honorary secretary Datuk Dr Wan Khalik Wan Muhammad. Photo: SBA

By DayakDaily Team

KUCHING, June 11: Former Malaysian international and Sarawak State player James Chua has been appointed as head coach of Sarawak badminton, effective June 1, 2026.

The Sarawak Badminton Association (SBA), in announcing the appointment today, said Chua brings extensive coaching experience at both the national and international levels, having previously served with the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) before becoming head coach of the Czech Republic national badminton team.

During his tenure in the Czech Republic, Chua led the country’s high-performance badminton programme and recorded notable achievements on the European circuit.

As head coach, he will oversee the overall development of badminton in Sarawak, including elite athlete preparation, talent identification, coach education and high-performance planning.

Chua will also be involved in badminton development programmes under the Sarawak State Sports Council (MSNS), contributing to athlete development and strengthening Sarawak’s preparations for major competitions such as the Malaysia Games (SUKMA) and national championships.

According to SBA, Chua is expected to play a key role in implementing the association’s SMASH 2030 strategic roadmap, which aims to position Sarawak among Malaysia’s leading badminton states through a sustainable athlete development system, stronger coaching standards and expanded grassroots participation.

SBA president Dato Sri Dr Wan Lizozman Wan Omar described the appointment as an important step in strengthening Sarawak badminton’s technical and high-performance structure.

“His international experience, technical expertise and deep understanding of Sarawak badminton make him the ideal person to lead our coaching programme and drive the vision of SMASH 2030,” he said in a statement.

Meanwhile, SBA honorary secretary Datuk Dr Wan Khalik Wan Muhammad said the appointment represented a strategic investment in the future of badminton in Sarawak.

He said Chua’s international exposure and technical expertise would help accelerate efforts to position Sarawak among the country’s leading badminton powerhouses.

Wan Khalik also expressed appreciation to the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Sarawak (MySED), MSNS and the Sarawak Sports Corporation (SSC) for supporting the coaching engagement.

Chua, meanwhile, thanked SBA for its confidence in him and said he looked forward to working with the association, coaches, players, parents and stakeholders to develop the next generation of badminton talents in Sarawak.

The appointment marks a significant milestone in SBA’s efforts to raise the standard of badminton in the State and realise its SMASH 2030 aspirations. — DayakDaily