PETALING JAYA: Tan Sri Norza Zakaria is not letting go the post as president of the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) as he has some unfinished business to settle.
Norza had initially decided to step down at the end of the year following the national team’s failure at this year’s SEA Games and Asian Junior championships. The women’s team were beaten by the Philippines at the Cambodia Games, which was a low in the country’s badminton history while their top juniors also failed to go beyond the quarter-finals for the first time at the Asian junior meet.
The poor results saw the exits of Wong Choong Hann (singles coaching director), Tim Jones (high performance director) and Datuk Misbun Sidek (junior coaching director) and the heat was on Norza to leave as well.
He however, has returned to help Malaysia win the elusive gold medal at the Paris Olympic Games and bring back the Thomas Cup last won in 1992.
“I have always said I had a checklist when I became president of BAM (in 2017),” said Norza after chairing the BAM council meeting at the Academy Badminton Malaysia (ABM) in Bukit Kiara yesterday.
“Among my goals was to help the shuttlers end the country’s wait for a World Championships title which was achieved last year (by men’s doubles pair Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik).
“The other targets are the Olympics gold and Thomas Cup.
“I have decided to remain as president because I do not want any disruptions to the players’ preparations for the Olympics. The goal is to win a gold.”
Norza, who co-chairs the Road to Gold (RTG) programme along with Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh, was persuaded by the latter to stay on in his position.
“Hannah requested me to stay on as president,” said Norza.
“I also had discussions with the other BAM council members before making my decision to remain in charge.”
Norza acknowledged that he will likely face criticism for reversing his decision to step down but remains unfazed.
“We are used to criticisms from netizens but it’s part and parcel of the job. We are all volunteers, offering our services pro bono,” said Norza.
Norza also shared that Investment, Trade, and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, who had earlier been named as his successor, fully understands and accepts his decision.
“I will not specify when I will leave. My tenure is until 2025 and we leave it as it is.”
