The national shirt is about honour, but money talks too

THE Malaysian shirt is not something to be sneered at. Wearing it is an honour, whatever your sport.

In badminton, where the country fights to be among the best in the world, it is an even more precious privilege.

We have seen how players jostle and fight hard to get a chance to play in the Thomas Cup Finals. It was a huge recognition to have one’s name called in the team event.

From the time of the late Wong Peng Soon, Eddie Choong, Punch Gunalan, Tan Aik Huang-Ng Boon Bee, the famous Sidek brothers and eventually our hero Lee Chong Wei and many more from different colourful eras since 1949 – it has always been about the pride of wearing that shirt in the Thomas Cup.

The shirt evokes emotions like no other.

Who can forget the euphoria of the 1992 Thomas Cup Finals victory at Stadium Negara? The players’ dogged determination brought true joy to the nation, and people of all races and colour beamed with unity and national pride after we toppled badminton giants like China and Indonesia for the Cup.

That’s why it was rather mind-boggling that professional shuttler Lee Zii Jia was hesitant at first to don the national colours for the team event that is so close to the hearts of Malaysians.

Everyone, including this writer, in fact, felt Zii Jia lacked patriotism.

I have covered many Finals for over close to three decades, and most of the times, I’ve only seen players crying at being left out from the team, not asking to be left out.

It was a first. Even, the Badminton Association Malaysia (BAM) had to wade through the uncharted waters. Eventually, after days of suspense, the BA of Malaysia finally announced that Zii Jia will play after all, through a win-win resolution.

The world No. 11 will take on the role as first singles but the national body will have to pay him compensation in thousands to wear the national jersey.

It’s unprecedented, and it’s unfortunate.

The decision has obviously brought different kind of reactions, with most questioning Zii Jia’s nationalism.

Has Zii Jia gone too far in his pursuit to be a true professional? Has he really become a money-minded mercenary?

Why is that only Zii Jia has to be compensated but not Cheam June Wei or Goh Jin Wei, the other two professionals selected for the team events? Is this a one-off or will there be more cases like this?

But there is more to the story and as we try to understand the rationale behind it all, it’s not too hard to come to the conclusion that times have changed.

Zii Jia’s circumstances are so different.

Being a true professional athlete is a new path altogether in the Malaysian badminton scene, one that can be challenging and lonely, especially when it is going against the norm.

Zii Jia is answerable to his personal sponsors and could get into trouble if he wears BAM’s national jersey that carries all their commercial sponsors. Zii Jia, after all, has to take care of his own rice bowl.

Who is going to pay him if he’s taken to court for breach of contract with his sponsors?

Team LZJ put it aptly in a statement that they had to protect the “image rights” of the player and it’s done to secure the future of the professionals.

Unlike the other pros, the Olympic Games-bound Zii Jia also has bargaining power. He is the best Malaysia has got now.

It’s not best of situations for the country, but we would not have come to this if the national body had enough depth in the singles department.

Their next best player, Ng Tze Yong, has been injured. The BAM have no choice but to include Zii Jia and June Wei too as the younger players are certainly not up to the mark yet.

This, however, is a wake-up call for the national body to beef up their singles department. If they have the best under their wings, they would not have to pay an arm and a leg to get others.

Anyway, we have to give due credit to BAM for putting national interest first and acknowledging that the country needs the professionals.

Expect more changes though. Who knows, BAM may pay foreign pros to play for them one day, if the rules permit it.

The most important thing, though, is that we have to end the painful 34-year wait for the Thomas Cup.

Times have really changed.

Even gold medal winners in athletics at the Paris Olympic Games will be paid money for the first time – breaking the 128-year tradition.

Sports has always been about honour, but it is also about money nowadays.