Future talents identified: Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh (third from right) during the boys’ singles Under-8 prize presentation. On her left is Chan Chong Ming and Daikin Malaysia’s marketing and service general manager Chan Hon Leong. — GLENN GUAN/The Star
PETALING JAYA: From a pioneer club to professional organisers.
Pioneer Sports Management had inaugurated the Daikin International badminton championships in 2017 not just as a platform to generate revenue but an avenue for juniors to showcase their talents.
And five years later, the tournament focused on identifying new talents has certainly taken off in a big way.
Pioneer, formed by former internationals Chan Chong Ming, Lee Wan Wah, Wong Choong Hann and Chew Choon Eng, have successfully gathered 1,500 junior shuttlers in a three-day tournament that ended at the club’s base in Pioneer Sunsuria Badminton centre in Kota Damansara yesterday.
After a successful run for three years from 2017 to 2019, the Covid-19 pandemic halted the progress of the event but it returned with a better success and broke boundaries this week.
Chong Ming said that the event was also given due consideration by the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) where the players under their junior programme, close to 50, had competed.
“Our objective is not just to gain revenue but to make sure future talents are identified. This is why we have included the age group from eight,” said Chong Ming, who is also the organising committee chairman of the tournament.
“We have got big response from all over the country and national juniors have also competed this time.
“The presence of the national juniors brought BAM coaches to our tournament too and there was a chance for them to do talent scouting.
“This time around, there were about 30 to 40 players from Sabah and Sarawak who decided to compete and this is a good development.
“There were more than 300 players who wished to participate but we have made the 1,500 players as our cut-off to ensure the competition is run smoothly.”
Pioneer’s effort has also attracted the attention of Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh who appreciated the effort to give the youngsters the chance to compete in a national level tournament.
“I applaud the initiative taken by the organisers as grassroots development is very crucial,” said Hannah.
“This badminton competition has attracted 1,500 players and is sanctioned by BAM. If we want to produce more players, we need a platform like this, a good base and starting point for children.
“It is not easy to organise a tournament of such a big scale and it will not be successful if corporate companies do not come forward to help them.
“I hope the tax incentive for corporate companies will attract more corporate companies in organising sports events.”
Meanwhile, Pioneer donated RM10,000 to Yayasan Chow Kit, a non-governmental organisation, in their bid to give back to the society.
Chong Ming said Pioneer would continue organising the tournament as long as it becomes one of the main bases to unearth future talents.
