PETALING JAYA: No player is bigger than the team.
That was the message from Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) performance committee chairman Datuk Seri Lee Chong Wei to players who try to put pressure on the national body by using the prospect of leaving the national set-up.
His comments came after Soh Wooi Yik said he was prepared to consider all options with partner Aaron Chia as the pair hope to remain together until the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Chong Wei said BAM’s door was always open for discussions, but warned players against using the threat of leaving simply because decisions made by the national body did not go their way.
"You have to remember where the player came from and where he trained when he was younger. He came through BAM and BAM helped develop him into the player he is today, so when he achieves something now, you also have to remember who helped him get there,” said Chong Wei when contacted.
“You cannot just use the World Championships result to put pressure on the association. I don’t know how things were handled before, but the current management is not afraid to make difficult decisions. I can tell you that.
“Don’t talk about leaving BAM simply to put pressure on the association. The new management is not afraid of that. We are prepared to discuss anything, but at the same time, we cannot keep pampering the players.
“If there is something they want, they should sit down and discuss it with us. Whatever we can do to help, we will help.''
Aaron-Wooi Yik have made no secret of their desire to stay together until the Los Angeles Olympics after showing they remain Malaysia’s strongest men’s doubles pair by winning silver at the World Championships in New Delhi last week.
The coaching team, however, are continuing to test new combinations as part of their plans to find the best pairing for the Olympic cycle.
Over the past two months, Aaron was paired with Aaron Tai and the duo finished runners-up at the Taiwan Open, while Wooi Yik, after initially struggling alongside Man Wei Chong, also reached the final of the Korean Masters.
Another reshuffle awaits at the China Masters starting Sept 1, with Aaron set to partner Wei Chong while Wooi Yik will team up with Aaron Tai.
If Aaron-Wooi Yik eventually decide to leave the national set-up and turn independent, they could face a hefty compensation bill as they are contracted to BAM until 2028, while there is also the possibility of being barred from competing in international tournaments.
That could make it harder for them to collect the ranking points needed to qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
