KUCHING: Two years of intense, daily training under legendary coach, Datuk Misbun Sidek, have shaped Sarawak’s Jack Huong Jin Zhe into a stronger and more disciplined shuttler, with the 18-year-old now confident of handling the pressure of top-level selection.
Jack, who trains with the Nusa Mahsuri Badminton Club, said his time under Misbun has been both physically demanding and rewarding.
“Of course it’s tiring, but it’s worth it. It’s a great pleasure to train under him,” said Jack, adding that the programme emphasises not only physical strength but also balance and timing in training.
He explained that Misbun’s approach focuses heavily on stamina, fitness and endurance, while carefully managing when to push and when to ease off.
“His training is quite balanced. He knows when to train you physically and when to focus more on endurance,” he told Sarawak Tribune when met today.
Jack’s routine reflects the demands of elite badminton, with training conducted seven days a week.
On selected days, he undergoes two sessions – from 5.00 am to 10.00 am in the morning, followed by another session from 3.00 pm to 5.00 pm.
As he prepares for the Malaysia Games (SUKMA) selection trials, Jack acknowledged the pressure that comes with competing at a higher level but believes mental discipline has become one of his strengths.
“There’s pressure, of course, but I just play on and don’t think too much. The more I think, the more pressure I get,” he said, expressing confidence in his ability to go far if he stays focused.
Jack’s mother, Siew Ting, who hails from Miri, said the family is grateful for the opportunity for her son to train under a coach of Misbun’s stature.
“It’s our pleasure that he got a slot to train under Coach Misbun himself. We hope he enjoys the training and the progress more than putting pressure on himself to achieve glory,” she said.
Siew Ting shared that Jack’s journey to Nusa Mahsuri began after he caught the attention of coaches during a badminton camp held in Kuching two years ago.
Although initial attempts to place him in a club were unsuccessful, Jack’s breakthrough came when he won the 100PLUS AFFIN Junior Elite Tour 2024.
“After he became champion, we approached them again and said this was the boy they saw at the camp.
“We hoped they would accept him and groom him as a future champion,” she said.
With strong family support and guidance from one of Malaysia’s most respected coaches, Jack continues his pursuit of excellence, determined to turn promise into performance on the national stage.
The SUKMA 2026 selection tournament gathers young badminton players from across the state from Friday (Jan 30) until Sunday (Feb 1) at the Sarawak Badminton Association (SBA) Hall.
