CHIEF coach Yap Kim Hock has urged the four doubles players who wanted to quit to return to the national fold.
He gave them an assurance that they would still be part of the Badminton Association of Malaysia's plans for the 2012 London Olympics.
On Friday, world number 19th Tan Bin Shen-Ong Soon Hock and 35th ranked Gan Teik Chai-Lin Woon Fui handed in their resignation letters to the BAM and said that they wanted out from the elite programme.
Without any outstanding results under their belts and a lack of tournament opportunities, both pairs wanted to seek better fortunes elsewhere.
Kim Hock said that he was still hopeful that the four players would reconsider.
“They are still young and I hope they will stay on much longer. They will not make it for the Beijing Olympics in August but they have chances for the next one (in London),” said Kim Hock.
“I know that the management are trying to increase their salaries too. My only concern is their reasons for leaving the team. I will be really disappointed if they are leaving because of better offers elsewhere. It should not be about money alone but about badminton.”
There are four pairs left in the elite squad under Rexy Mainaky. They are world No. 1 Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong, veterans Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah, Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif-Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari and Hoon Thien How-Tan Wee Kiong.
