KUALA LUMPUR – The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) will set up another badminton academy in Penang as the state government has offered a piece of land for its construction.
Once the academy is fully constructed, it will be BAM’s first badminton academy outside of Kuala Lumpur.
“We have gone for a site visit. (BAM secretary-general) Datuk Kenny Goh and Suresh Kumar (Akademi Badminton Malaysia head) recently went to Penang to see it.
“This is slowly realising our dream to have another academy in another zone,” said BAM president Tan Sri Norza Zakaria.
The discussions started in 2018 when Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow revealed that the state is considering working with BAM and the Penang Badminton Association to have an academy there, which would help promote sports and train more badminton players from the state.
“The land is about eight to ten acres. As we are currently negotiating the terms, more details will be shared soon when everything is finalised,” Norza explained.
He was speaking at a press conference after the incentive-giving ceremony for the 2022 men’s doubles world champions Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik, as well as the coaching team represented by men’s doubles coach Tan Bin Shen.
Aaron and Wooi Yik were rewarded with RM500,000 for their remarkable performance in Tokyo last month in which the pair defeated the experienced pair of Mohammad Ahsan-Hendra Setiawan 21-19, 21-14 in the men’s doubles final to become Malaysia’s first world champions.
The incentive includes RM150,000 each from BAM, RM 50,000 each from Yonex and RM50,000 each from 100Plus.
Meanwhile, Norza also praised Aaron and Wooi Yik for keeping their focus on the game instead of being bothered by negative comments from netizens before they become world champions.
“If these two guys give in to the pressure, the negative comments from the netizens that was thrown against them, it would definitely dampen their spirits.
“But they know that there are many battles to fight. You live to fight for another day,” he added.
The world No. 5 duo have been struggling to end the semifinals jinx for the longest time before they became the world champions.
At the same time, Norza said that it is important to have a good support ecosystem with sponsors and a coaching team.
“Seeing that we are a badminton nation, there are many more milestones we want to achieve.
“Trust the process and give full support, then we can see the result that we desire,” he added.
In an effort to develop more players, BAM also announced the launch of the Elite Junior Team, comprising 14 top junior players from the academy, to fast-track their development to compete at senior-level tournaments. – The Vibes, August 7, 2022
