KUALA LUMPUR: Another former international – Lee Wan Wah – is ready to do his bit to support the efforts of new Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) president Tengku Tan Sri Mahaleel Tengku Ariff to revive the national body.
Wan Wah, who briefly held the world No. 1 ranking with Choong Tan Fook in 2004, said yesterday that former national shuttlers were keen to help out if their services were needed by Tengku Mahaleel.
“I’ll think about it if BAM want our services. Some of us have not been out of the game for a long time ... but we can contribute,” said Wan Wah.
Wan Wah and three others – Wong Choong Hann, Chan Chong Ming and Chew Choon Eng – jointly own the Pioneer Sports Management (M) Sdn Bhd, which operates four badminton halls. They also conduct coaching sessions in the Klang Valley.
“Of course, we cannot make an immediate U-turn in the association ... but with our experience and knowledge of the game, we can help to strengthen the programme in the national team,” said Wan Wah, who is also open to the idea of former players assisting the BAM.
“The game has evolved but the basics remain the same. These former players – even if they last played many years ago, have the instinct, strategies and tactics that are vital to improving the current players’ game. They can still be of use.”
Tengku Mahaleel, who was appointed last Saturday, has asked for a month to lay the ground work by appointing several people to key positions in the BAM.
This include the coaching director, coaching and training chairman, the development committee head and secretary.
Other former internationals who have voiced their interests in helping out BAM are Cheah Soon Kit, Kwan Yoke Meng, Datuk James Selvaraj, Razif Sidek, Choong Hann, Datuk Tan Yee Khan, Tan Aik Mong, Tan Aik Huang and Ng Boon Bee.
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