JOHOR is moving a step closer towards establishing its own high-performance badminton academy.
State youth, sports, entrepreneur development and cooperatives committee chairman Mohd Hairi Mad Shah said he held a discussion with national badminton legend Datuk Seri Lee Chong Wei in Kuala Lumpur.
Lee is also Johor’s sports ambassador.
Under the proposal, the state government plans to establish the Johor-Lee Chong Wei Badminton Academy as a strategic initiative to strengthen badminton development in Johor.
Hairi, who is also Larkin assemblyman, said his discussions with Lee covered several key aspects of the proposed academy.
“These included the direction and framework of the academy’s establishment, its training structure and philosophy, grassroots talent development models, technical collaboration and long-term planning.”
He said the aim of the academy was to produce more Johor-born badminton players capable of competing at national and international levels.
“This initiative is not just about building an academy, but also about developing a comprehensive, systematic and sustainable high-performance sports ecosystem.
“The academy will align with the state’s Johor Sports Nation 2030 aspiration, which seeks to position Johor as a leading sporting state in the country,” he added.
Hairi said Lee’s experience, expertise and credibility as a former world number one and Olympic medallist would play a crucial role in shaping the academy’s direction.
He expressed confidence that with strong commitment from the state government and guidance from Lee as Johor’s sports ambassador, the plan could be realised effectively.
“The academy is expected to focus not only on elite athlete training but also on identifying and nurturing young talents from the grassroots level.
“The initiative reflects Johor’s broader commitment to strengthening youth development through sports and creating structured pathways for aspiring athletes,” said Hairi.
He said additional details, such as implementation timelines and collaboration frameworks, would be refined following continued engagement between the state and the relevant stakeholders.
“Johor will continue to move forward in empowering its sports agenda for the benefit of future generations,” he added.
