Ong Beng Hee's journey from world No.7 squash star to mentor is taking him to new heights in China. A two-time Asian Games gold medalist, Ong retired from professional play in July 2015 and quickly shifted focus to coaching—first in Malaysia, then the United States, and now in Beijing.
After three years with Team USA, Ong saw China’s squash scene bubbling with potential: an expanding community of young players, new facilities popping up in major cities, and a rising appetite for high-performance training. He says the energy here reminded him of the late 1990s boom triggered by Kuala Lumpur’s 1998 Commonwealth Games.
Back home, long-term support from both the government and the private sector laid the foundation for Malaysia’s squash success story. Ong hopes to replicate that recipe in China, partnering with local academies to build pathways from grassroots talent to international competition.
With squash confirmed for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, Ong confesses he missed the chance to compete on that stage himself and is now determined to see his players there, eyes set on Olympic glory.
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Former Malaysian squash star Ong on transition from player to coach
cgtn.com
