PETALING JAYA: There is light at the end of the tunnel.
KLRC manager Sairol Amar Ayob is positive that his club player Goh Jin Wei (pic) will get an opportunity to play on as an independent player after a fruitful meeting with Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu.
Yesterday, Faizal spent about an hour with Jin Wei and All-England champion Lee Zii Jia to discuss the issue at hand.
Jin Wei and Zii Jia have been slapped with a two-year sanction from all international tournaments by the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) after both decided to play for the nation as independent players. Zii Jia quit on Jan 11 while Jin Wei was also surprisingly handed the same punishment after she decided to join KLRC recently.
She had no issues whatsoever when she resigned from BAM last September after deciding that she was not in good form after going through surgery for stomach ailment.
Sairol said the players were grateful to the minister for taking his time to listen to their plight.
“It was a good meeting. Zii Jia went in first and we followed suit. He listened to what the players had to say,” said Sairol.
“He wants the issue to be resolved amicably and gave them assurance that the matter will be looked into.”
Like Zii Jia, who has already filed his appeal to BAM, Sairol said Jin Wei may follow suit soon.
“It’s tricky as Jin Wei’s case is different. She has already left the team last September. She has not received any letter on the sanction. So, what should her appeal be all about?
“Anyway, Jin Wei and the club will discuss and probably, will appeal too.
“I just want to thank the minister for taking his time to listen. It’s positive and all we want is for Jin Wei to play again,” added Sairol.
