Independent shuttlers invited to join national team training for Thomas, Uber Cup finals

PETALING JAYA: Several independent shuttlers will be invited to join the national team training at the Academy Badminton Malaysia (ABM), starting from mid-July to prepare for the Thomas and Uber Cup Finals in Aarhus, Denmark, from Oct 3 to 11 and the Tokyo Olympics next year.

No names have been revealed yet, but the likes of men's doubles players such as Goh V Shem, Tan Wee Kiong, Ong Yew Sin and Teo Ee Yi, as well as Chan Peng Soon and Goh Liu Ying for mixed doubles are expected to make the list.

Liew Daren and Soong Joo Ven should also be under consideration as they are the country's second and third highest-ranked men's shuttlers at the moment.

BAM president Datuk Seri Norza Zakaria said the invitation will be extended to professionals who are "most likely to qualify" for the Tokyo Games from July 23 to Aug 9 next year and deemed the "best available" to strengthen the Thomas Cup squad.

"In the interests of both the nation and also the national badminton squad, I have decided to invite the independent players that are most likely to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics (based on the current Race to Tokyo ranking lists) to train at ABM with the national squad by the middle of July, on a twice-weekly basis," said Norza.

"Once these players have confirmed their qualification for the Tokyo Olympics, they will be invited to train full-time at ABM.

"I certainly hope these players will take this opportunity to work as one Malaysian team and at the same time, work harder to achieve the Olympic dream.

"As we want the best players available to represent Malaysia, I would like to extend the invitation to the independent players to join this team in the Thomas Cup Finals as well.

"The independent players that are selected will be invited to train at ABM by the middle of July. This is with the hope that these players will be able to train together and at the same time, to build the ‘espirit de corps’ amongst them.

"I certainly hope that the players will be able to do well especially in these two important tournaments and at the same time, bring glory to our beloved country, Malaysia," Norza said.

BAM are currently working closely with the Youth and Sports Ministry to arrange for the return of their shuttlers in phases after the goverment eased some restrictions under the conditional movement control order (MCO).

National team training has been put on hold since March 18 due to the MCO.

The first batch of players, those in the Road to Tokyo programme, will be given the priority and are expected to report back for training by June 1.

The second phase will be to kickstart preparations for the Thomas and Uber Cup Finals by June 15.