Petaling Jaya BC gets huge injection for Purple League challenge

National badminton player Lee Chong Wei (left) looks on as KLRC owner Datuk Seri Andrew Kam passes the RM1mil sponsorship cheque to PJBC co-owner K. Yogendran during the team unveiling on Wednesday.

KUALA LUMPUR: The Petaling Jaya Badminton Club (PJBC) have landed a cool RM1mil sponsorship deal on the spot, thanks to having Lee Chong Wei as their main player for the Kopiko Purple League (KPL).

Datuk Seri Andrew Kam, the owner of KL Rackets (KLRC), signed and presented a cheque to PJBC on Wednesday when he found out that the club had no sponsors.

Datuk Seri Norza Zakaria, the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) deputy president, applauded Andrew’s gesture.

“In times like this, huge monetary support is a timely help for the club,” said Norza, who is also the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) deputy president.

The other top players roped in by PJBC are former BAM players Mohd Hafiz Hashim, Koo Kien Keat and current national women’s doubles star Woon Khe Wei and R. Satheishtharan.

They have also signed up 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games women’s singles champion Michelle Li of Canada, Thailand’s Nichaon Jindapon and Bodin Issara and Indonesia’s Vita Marissa.

Team manager R. Manoj Kumar said PJBC’s aim is to win the coveted league title after emerging as runners-up to Muar City Badminton Club in the 2015 season, which ended in February.

This year’s league starting on Nov 4 will involve 12 teams. 

THE TEAM

Men: Lee Chong Wei, Mohd Hafiz Hashim, K. Yogendran, R. Satheishtharan, Khosit Phetpradab, Koo Kien Keat, Nipitphon Puangpuapech, Bodin Issara, Vountus Indramawan, Darren Issac Devadass, Roni Tan Wee Long, Jagdish Singh, Shahzan Shah Misfahul Muneer, Ahmadi Abdul Saman, Chan Kwong Beng.

Women: Woon Khe Wei, Vita Marissa, Yang Li Lian, Lim Chiew Sien, Michelle Li, Prajakta Sawant, Nichaon Jindapon, Goh Yea Ching.