PETALING JAYA: The packed international calendar has left the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) facing a challenge in finding the right time to hold a centralised training camp ahead of the SEA Games Thailand.
The badminton event at the SEA Games will take place from Dec 7-14 in Pathum Thani, and BAM have named a strong squad featuring current and former world champions with the target of bringing home at least two gold medals.
In fact, the Thai organisers have brought the badminton event forward to avoid a clash with the World Tour Finals in Hangzhou from Dec 17-21.
With just a month to go before the biennial meet, the players still have a hectic schedule ahead, with most set to compete in the Korean Masters (Nov 4–9), Kumamoto Masters (Nov 11–16) and the Australian Open in Sydney (Nov 18–23).
BAM’s newly appointed performance committee chairman, Datuk Seri Lee Chong Wei, said he would wait for all to return from Europe after the Hylo Open in Germany from Oct 28-Nov 2 before discussing suitable dates for the training camp.
For this edition, BAM have also included professional shuttler Aidil Sholeh Ali Sadikin, who currently trains at Sports Affairs in Cheras, in the men’s team.
“We will discuss it once all the coaches are back. I’m worried that the time is very limited, as the tournaments are too close to each other,” said Chong Wei.
“The timeframe is tight, but we will discuss with all the coaches since there is a team event involved.
“Coach Rexy Mainaky (national doubles coaching director) has mentioned the need for a training camp, but we must also consider the timing. We’ld discuss not only the SEA Games but also future plans and next year’s programmes,” said Chong Wei.
The men’s team last won at the 2005 edition in Manila, where Chong Wei was also part of the squad. As for the women’s team, their last gold medal came at the 2009 edition in Vientiane.
