BAM clear the floor, stopping all training


PETALING JAYA: The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) have cleared the floor, suspending the entire national team’s training indefinitely in the wake of the Movement Control order implemented by the Government.

Except for the 16 players and six coaches who just returned from the All-England, the rest of the squad were supposed to have resumed training tomorrow after Academy Badminton Malaysia (ABM) was shut down for cleaning and sanitising work last Sunday.

The plans have now changed after the national body were told by the National Sports Council (NSC) yesterday to suspend all training sessions at once.

The execution of the Movement Control order is aimed at restricting the movement and congregation of people at various activities, including sports.

The ABM is a centre of excellence housing more than 100 shuttlers, half of whom are members of the national junior squad aged between 12-17.

BAM secretary Datuk Kenny Goh said all the junior shuttlers have been sent home.

“All the senior team members are still being based at ABM, including those who had just finished competing at the All-England and undergoing a two-week quarantine,” said Kenny.

“As for the rest, we will decide as soon as possible whether to allow them to go home. This long break will certainly disrupt the ongoing training programme, but we just can’t help it.”

Coaching director Wong Choong Hann, who is also being quarantined at the ABM, was pleased to see some players taking their own initiative to keep themselves fit under such circumstances.

“We are all confined here to one floor, so we do not have much space to do heavy load exercises,” said Choong Hann.

“Still, it’s pleasing to see some players have started doing their own stationary workouts. Despite the limitation, they are making do with what they can in such a situation. It’s their attitude that matters.”

The national bowling team have also halted their training after their last session on Monday.

Malaysian Tenpin Bowling Congress (MTBC) secretary-general Maradona Chok said they have been left with no option but a temporary closure of the Sunway Mega Lanes in the Sunway Pyramid shopping complex.

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