Smashing partnership: Mixed doubles star Chan Peng Soon receiving a cheque from BT Bina Group chief executive officer Datuk Seri David Tan.
PETALING JAYA: There is no stopping mixed doubles shuttler Chan Peng Soon.
The professional may be at the tailend of his career but his pursuit to discover future badminton talents for the country has not ceased.
And yesterday, Peng Soon was all smiles when his CPS Badminton Academy received a substantial financial injection of RM200,000, courtesy of BT Bina Group to support his cause in producing stars for the country.
The 2016 Rio Olympics silver medallist said the funds would be directed towards the management of the academy, allowing them to hire more coaches and subsidise sessions for underprivileged trainees.
“We want to provide youngsters who have an interest for badminton the opportunity to attend training regularly,” said Peng Soon, who won the silver with Goh Liu Ying in Rio.
“Badminton is not a cheap sport, especially if you’re looking at scheduled coaching sessions and the fees that come with it.
“With this additional funding, we can employ more coaches to further extend our reach and find new talents, and at the same time provide lower rates for trainees who come from a poor background,” said Peng Soon after the memorandum of understanding (MOU) signing ceremony yesterday.
Currently, he has seven full-time coaches in his centre in Penang and six in Kuala Lumpur with over 500 trainees in total. Peng Soon added that they would open a new centre in Johor in March.
“New academies also provides an option for retired players who want to pursue coaching and continue their badminton careers,” he said. “They can bring with them the experience and expertise that are valuable to young players.
“The important thing that trainees need is the right attitude. They need to be hardworking and serious in what they’re doing,” he said.
BT Bina Group chief executive officer Datuk Seri David Tan said he fully supports the academy’s vision.
“We can see that badminton is a major sport in the country, not just for kids but adults as well.
“Peng Soon has won an Olympics silver medal, so we hope with the sponsorship and his experience more youngsters will be lining up to join the academy,” said David.
