Healthy bite: Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) president Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz having a meal at the Academy Badminton Malaysia (ABM) canteen with junior shuttlers Low Zi Yu, Loh Ziheng and Noraqilah Maisarah Ramdan. - Zafrul's IG
PETALING JAYA: Healthier meals at the Academy Badminton Malaysia (ABM) are set to fuel the shuttlers in training and competitions.
Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) president Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz has doubled the budget for shuttlers' meals at the ABM canteen by roping in healthy food brand Salad Atelier as a sponsor.
"Food determines the performance of athletes. Since I became president of BAM, the first thing I did was get feedback from various stakeholders," said Zafrul via social media.
"I met junior and senior players, coaches and BAM staff. Among the main issue brought up was the need for healthier food.
"Thank God, I managed to get a sponsor and now the budget for the shuttlers' meals has doubled. Thank you, Salad Atelier."
Hands on: Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) president Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz at the Academy Badminton Malaysia (ABM) canteen.Zafrul then went on to emphasise the importance of nutrition in athletes' performance.
"This is not a small thing. At the elite level, a one percent increase, whether in training, welfare, including food can be the difference between winning and losing," said Zafrul.
"I went down myself to the cafe in ABM to check everything there. The athletes looked happy with the food being served."
Feeding champions: Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) president Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz speaking to the chef at the Academy Badminton Malaysia (ABM) canteen.With the higher quality food served, Zafrul hopes the players' performance will improve.
"The food is already the best, so the performance of the players in training and competitions must improve too," added Zafrul."
Zafrul's latest efforts showed that he is leaving no stone unturned in his bid to raise the standards of the shuttlers since he was appointed as BAM president in May.
