Kuala lumpur: Newly hired national coach Yeoh Kay Bin has stressed that efforts to rebuild the country's men's singles squad must start immediately to close the gap with players from badminton powerhouse nations. The national men's junior singles coach said failing to begin development early would widen the performance gap and have long-term effects on talent continuity at the senior level. According to BERNAMA News Agency, Kay Bin emphasized the urgency of starting the rebuilding process now. He stated that delaying these efforts would result in the country continually falling behind other nations. He acknowledged that results may not be immediate but stressed that the future success of the squad depends on actions taken today. Kay Bin highlighted the necessity of building strong foundations, indicating that without correct fundamentals from the start, transitioning players to the senior level would be challenging. Kay Bin outlined that a long-term perspective is needed, requiring the development of compre hensive foundations covering technical, physical, and mental skills for junior players. He mentioned his current focus is on assessing the players, understanding their character, and evaluating their approach to badminton. Some players, he noted, are already strong, while others require significant development. Kay Bin is one of three new coaches appointed by the Badminton Association of Malaysia as part of a recent coaching restructure. Having commenced his duties recently, Kay Bin's initial priority is to evaluate the players before implementing any long-term plans for the national junior squad. With experience in coaching development programs in Malaysia and abroad, including China, Kay Bin is now guiding 18 players aged 15 to 18 alongside coaches Alvin Chew and Goh Giap Chin.