KUCHING: Once a small setup with a single trainee, JPro Badminton Academy Kuching now thrives with almost 80 shuttlers under its wing.
Led by head coach and director, Kong Chee Kiet, the academy is celebrating over five years of steady growth and an increasing impact on the local badminton scene.
“Five years ago, I only had one student. Today, we have around 70 to 80 across Stapok and Tabuan Laru, with six coaches guiding them,” Kong told the Sarawak Tribune when met recently.
A former competitive player who briefly left the sport to work as a salesman, Kong reignited his passion for badminton in 2016 when he returned to tournaments, even competing in a Badminton World Federation (BWF) event.
His transition into coaching came naturally as, one by one, students approached him for training.
Today, JPro Academy has not only expanded its reach but also produced players with state-level potential.
“Right now, we have about four to six upcoming state players. Some train up to six days a week. If they want to go higher, they need at least four to five days of training,” Kong explained.
Among the academy’s brightest prospects is eight-year-old Fayyad Razyn Khawaja, who finished as runner-up in the Under-9 category during the first leg of the Sarawak Young Badminton Talent tournament in Sibu earlier this year.
He is set to compete in Johor and will also feature in the academy’s own upcoming tournament on September 16 at Tabuan Laru.
Despite the rising competitiveness, Kong insists his main hope is that students find joy in the sport.
“I don’t expect too much from them. I just want them to enjoy their badminton life and not waste their time here,” he said.
With five years behind them and more tournaments and training opportunities ahead, JPro Badminton Academy Kuching is positioning itself as a key grassroots hub for developing Sarawak’s next generation of shuttlers.
