PETALING JAYA: The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) have had enough with disciplinary issues and players need to be better role models for the next generation.
BAM performance committee chairman Datuk Seri Lee Chong Wei is done giving warnings to shuttlers who flout rules set within the national set-up, and hopes players will do better after all that has been provided for them.
“Players need to understand that discipline is everything. We want players to rise on their own and realise the disciplinary issues that have been going on,” said Chong Wei.
There have been several disciplinary concerns within the national team, and as a former player himself, Chong Wei stressed that senior players have the responsibility to set the right example for the youngsters.
“The next generation will look at the current senior players; they are the icons of the association and Malaysians.
“It doesn’t matter if they are from the state, juniors or back-up, the younger generation will look up to the seniors. Whatever the seniors do, they will follow,” said Chong Wei after BAM’s council meeting and annual general meeting yesterday.
Chong Wei added that players staying at the Academy Badminton Malaysia (ABM) are lucky as they have flexibility and freedom compared to their counterparts in other countries, for example, in China.
Yet, there are those who are not happy with the rules but Chong Wei and BAM do not intend to budge.
“I can’t accept reasons players have given for them not to stay at the hostels. Even the president can’t accept it.
“In other countries such as China, all the national players have to stay in hostels. Here, if you’re married, we give you the flexibility to stay outside.
“Like Aaron Chia said, even those who are married in China have to stay in the hostel.”
Aaron, who is among the players allowed to commute from home due to family commitments, had previously expressed his view that players need to follow the rules set within the national set-up.
Chong Wei added that players in ABM have their freedom, but need to maintain discipline at the same time.
“Players here have flexibility. On Saturdays and Sundays, they can go back home. And even on regular days, they are allowed to go out.
“It’s just that they need to be back by 10.30pm in the hostels. Unless they have events such as award ceremonies, that we can accept.
“But rules and discipline have to be adhered to by BAM players,” said Chong Wei.
Meanwhile, BAM president Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz stressed that repeat discipline offenders will be forced to sit out tournaments, and repeat offences could see them dropped from the team.
“We don’t want to reveal any names because we want to respect the players’ privacy, but if they don’t compete in tournaments, then perhaps it can be figured out.
“If players still want to break rules, then we may have to drop them,” he said yesterday.
