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KUALA LUMPUR – The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) and Akademi Badminton Malaysia youth singles coaching director Datuk Misbun Sidek have mutually agreed to part ways effective today.
BAM deputy president Datuk V. Subramaniam said the decision was made by the special task force led by him, following the youth squad’s dismal performance at the Asian Junior Badminton Championships in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, recently.
“We (the special task force) had a lengthy discussion with our stakeholders and decided that things have to change for the better.
“So, Misbun understands that...it is only fair that we look into a new path,” Subramaniam told a press conference here today.
Misbun, who rejoined BAM for a second stint in 2017, was supposed to have a contract with the national badminton governing body until the end of this year.
Despite his sadness over the results in Yogyakarta, Subramaniam also gave Misbun credit for his efforts all these years, including providing his players the best way to move forward.
“Misbun has been exemplary in his role as the development director. From the day he was appointed, he served with passion and was committed to the development of our young players. We are grateful for his contribution and thank him for his services,” he said.
At the 2023 Asian Junior Championships in Yogyakarta recently, the national junior squad displayed a lacklustre performance when they lost to defending champions Thailand 0-3 in the quarter-finals of the mixed team event, and none of the players qualified for the semi-finals of the singles competition.
The last time Malaysia won a medal in the tournament was in 2018 through the then junior women's doubles pair of Pearly Tan-Toh Ee Wei who took silver and helped the then national squad win bronze in the mixed team event.
While BAM is currently working on finding Misbun’s replacement, Subramaniam said, Mohd Hazwan Jamaluddin will coach the under-18 singles squad while Ameer Zainuddin will train the under-15 singles squad. – Bernama, July 28, 2023
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