Malaysia’s M. Thinaah and Pearly Tan. — FAIHAN GHANI/The Star
PETALING JAYA: Stay on and win medals for the country.
This is the message by Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) acting president Datuk V. Subramaniam to the country's top women's doubles shuttlers Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah, who are yet to renew their contracts with the national body.
There are rumours that world No. 5 Pearly-Thinaah are in talks with sponsors outside BAM and may leave the association to turn independent.
Subramaniam though is optimistic that the pair will decide to stay on.
"It is true that Pearly-Thinaah have not signed a new contract with us yet," said Subramaniam.
"We are currently still having discussions, so it's a matter of time that it will be sorted out.
"There is no exact time frame yet though (on when they will decide). We are also giving them some leeway for them to think carefully. But they are still with us."
Subramaniam also said that BAM have invested heavily on the duo and hopes they will repay the association.
"The purpose of us investing in players since their younger days is for them to stay here," said Subramaniam.
"We invested in states to develop the players and then continued taking care of them very well after they joined BAM.
"We have invested a large sum of money and our expectations are for them to stay on, work hard and win medals for the country."
