Indra mulls over idea of setting badminton club in Malaysia

PETALING JAYA: Former national singles chief coach Indra Gunawan of Indonesia has not ruled out coming back to Malaysia and forming a club here. 

Yesterday, when contacted at his home in Jakarta, Indra did not want to comment on speculation that he would be forming a club in Malaysia to cater to players who will be dropped when the national team is trimmed this Saturday. 

The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) will announce their new squad after their council meeting on Saturday.  

They will also announce their disciplinary board's decision on veteran Ong Ewe Hock. 

National singles head coach Misbun Sidek will forward his recommendation for 12 players he wanted in his team. 

Currently, there are 15 players under the BAM banner.  

They are Ewe Hock, Wong Choong Hann, Lee Tsuen Seng, James Chua, Sairul Amar Ayob, Lee Chong Wei, Yeoh Kay Bin, Kuan Beng Hong, Ramesh Nathan, Ismail Saman, K. Yogendran, Tan Zhao Rong, Stanley Michael, Mohd Hazuan Jamaluddin and Mohd Nazree Latifi. 

Three others not under the BAM banner but training under Misbun are Yong Hock Kin and Hashim brothers Roslin and Hafiz. 

“I have no comment on this matter (speculation that he was going to form a club). But even if I decide to form a club in Malaysia, don't you think it will be good for the sport in Malaysia? It is good to have competition to motivate the players,” said Indra. 

“No one should be worried and have fear on this issue. Even if a club is formed for those who did not make the national squad or for anyone else for that matter, it will be only for the good of the sport.” 

Indra, who is on a three-month break after the BAM announced in November that his services were no longer required, said he was keeping his options open on his future. 

“I am still getting many offers. I am assessing each one and see which one will be suitable for my age and me,” said the 56-year-old Indra, who is the manager of the six-court Wira Hall in Jakarta.