Slow season: Pros Nur Izzuddin Rumsani and Goh Sze Fei have been struggling to make headway this year.
PETALING JAYA: Stop training in silos.
Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh has called for Malaysia’s top shuttlers – either from the national team or professionals – to conduct sparring sessions together, insisting that it would be a complete waste not to unite the nation’s Road to Gold (RTG) talents under one roof.
Instead of relying on foreign sparring partners, Hannah said both independent and Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) shuttlers should train together regularly, maximising the world-class quality already available within the country.
“What I want is for professional shuttlers to train together with BAM athletes. Otherwise, their sparring opportunities are wasted,” she said after a sponsorship agreement ceremony between the NSC and Corporate Hero Century Sdn Bhd (PACE) in Bukit Jalil yesterday.
“Their rankings are almost the same, and if they don’t take advantage of this, it’s a loss.”
Currently, BAM players who are in the RTG programme are world No. 2 men’s doubles pair Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun (No. 5), women’s doubles duo Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah (No. 2), and mixed doubles pair Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei (No. 4).
The pros under the programme are men’s doubles shuttlers Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani (No. 4), and mixed doubles pair Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie (No. 9).
A new centralised training venue for the professionals had been promised by the RTG committee, but a location has yet to be finalised.
Hannah said they would discuss on a training venue for both sides to spar.
“The logistics will be determined by the RTG committee because they have their schedules to follow,” said Hannah.
“But what I want is to see independent shuttlers train with BAM players.”
She added that RTG coordinator Datuk Stuart Ramalingam has begun discussions to ensure more frequent combined sessions to keep the players sharp.
“Before the Paris Olympics, we approved foreign sparring partners, but the truth is we already have the quality locally if professional and BAM athletes cooperate,” she said.
On concerns about potential clashes between sponsors of professional shuttlers and BAM players, Hannah said those issues were no longer a stumbling block.
“These are RTG training sessions. Whatever happened in the past is no longer the case. Things are different now.”
Hannah also took the opportunity to congratulate Pearly Tan–M. Thinaah for clinching their third title of the year after winning the Japan Masters in Kumamoto on Sunday.
She said RTG had approved 15 tournaments for the pair this year, in addition to sports science support and specialised chiropractic care for Pearly.
She added that RTG has also increased allowances for several coaches, including Rosman Razak, to recognise their contributions and narrow the gap between the wages of local and foreign coaches.
