PETALING JAYA: Finally, the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) are ready to crack down on unfit shuttlers.
Starting from April next year, all shuttlers who fail BAM’s fitness test will be barred from competing in three tournaments.
“We will give them time to prepare for the physical fitness tests ... this rule will only take effect in April next year,” said BAM deputy president Datuk Seri Norza Zakaria after a coaching and training committee meeting on Tuesday.
“Essentially, it has to be more of an educational process. We want the players and coaches to understand the rationale behind the tests and not abruptly introduce them.”
BAM technical director Morten Frost admitted that the three-tournament ban was “a tough but necessary penalty”.
“A shuttler cannot improve his or her fitness in two or three weeks. It takes a period of time and that’s why this is necessary,” said Frost.
“When they show improvements, they will be allowed to compete again. This applies to both the seniors and juniors.”
Frost also announced that BAM have agreed terms to re-hire Rosman Razak as a men’s doubles coach on a two-year contract.
“We have a lot of players and a lot of tournaments over the year and it is a bit of a predicament for us now,” said Frost.
“Rosman will give us a bit more flexibility and it will also help us improve the men’s doubles department as well.”
The other national coaches are Hendrawan, Tey Seu Bock, Indra Wijaya (men’s singles); Jeremy Gan, Cheah Soon Kit (men’s doubles); Rony Agustinus, Sairul Amar Ayob (women’s singles); Lim Pek Siah, Wong Pei Tty (women’s doubles); Chin Eei Hui and Pang Cheh Chang (mixed doubles).
BAM have also hired former Sabah BA secretary Yapp Su Chiew as the new junior development manager and named Zhou Kejian as chief coach for the Form 1-Form 3 batch.
Kwan Yoke Meng remains as chief coach for the Form Four and Form Five squads.
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