Chong Ming and Co hold tourney to unearth badminton talent

Back to grassroots: (From left) Pioneer Sport Management’s Lee Wan Wah, Chan Chong Ming, Daikin Malaysia Sales and Service Sdn Bhd assistant general manager Lai Yong Fatt and Daikin Malaysia Sales and Service Sdn Bhd marketing manager Chan Hon Leong posing for a photograph.

PETALING JAYA: Former doubles shuttler Chan Chong Ming left the national team nine years ago but that hasn’t stopped him from giving back to the sport.

Chong Ming and his partners from the Pioneer Sports Management, including former internationals Lee Wan Wah, Chew Choon Eng and Wong Choong Hann, are organising a RM40,000 Daikin International Badminton Championships at the Sunsuria Pioneer Badminton Centre at Kota Damansara from Nov 29-Dec 2.

The tournament is for players aged between eight and 21. The events contested are boys’ singles and doubles; girls’ singles and doubles; and mixed doubles.

It will be one of the club’s biggest events, thanks to their partnership with Daikin Malaysia, who is the main title sponsor.

“We’re hosting this tournament for the juniors to have a platform to shine. This is our part in searching for and grooming talented young players for the country,” said Chong Ming, who left the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) in 1998 to become one of the club’s coaches.

“I do miss the challenge and competitiveness of being a badminton player.

“But this is another phase of my badminton life. Together with the others in the club, we’re trying to produce good players at the grassroots level.”