PETALING JAYA: The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) have warned national players who continue flouting team rules that they could be barred from competing in international tournaments.
BAM president Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz said the warning comes following concerns raised by performance committee chairman Datuk Seri Lee Chong Wei over disciplinary issues involving several national shuttlers.
Although Zafrul did not name any players, he stressed that no one in the national set-up would receive special treatment regardless of their status.
"They may not be allowed to compete until their discipline improves, including being left out of certain tournaments.
"We also want them to stay more focused. Chong Wei and the management had informed me earlier this year that, for example, we may not need to send our players to every tournament so they can have time to recover and also focus on other aspects.
"But for those who fail to meet the higher disciplinary standards that we have proposed, appropriate disciplinary action may be taken against them," said Zafrul after launching the new Ampang Jaya Badminton Club hall in Ampang.
Chong Wei had previously revealed that some national players were still refusing to comply with team rules, including staying at the hostel at the Academy Badminton Malaysia (ABM) in Bukit Kiara.
More worryingly, the issue is understood to involve several senior players, with their performances also believed to have been affected.
However, players who are married such as Aaron Chia and Man Wei Chong are allowed to commute from their homes to the ABM due to their family commitments.
Zafrul is taking the issue seriously and does not want it to reach a stage where it affects the players’ performances on court.
Meanwhile, Zafrul said he was happy to see the role of clubs like Ampang Jaya BC in promoting grassroots programme.
"The BA of Malaysia have collaborated with Ampang Jaya club to organise a badminton clinic for grassroots players," he said.
The programme was held as part of the Tangkis 2030 plan aimed at strengthening grassroots development in badminton.
