Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia’s Youth and Sports Minister, Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman has called on Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) and its players to come together and work hard in order to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
“I know BAM has been evaluating and keeping an eye on every player to ensure they could keep on performing. I am confident with the players, but we must start the preparation now,” said Saddiq.
“I will do whatever I can to ensure we work hard in preparation for the Olympics, even if I need to meet the players every month,” added Saddiq when opening for the Under-15 Badminton Championship at Juara Stadium in Bukit Kiara.
BAM’s president Mohamad Norza Zakaria also mentioned that the organization would start looking for a coaching director to strengthen all departments within BAM.
“We are studying who we should hire as the coaching director,” said Zakaria.
Morten Frost Hansen, who was BAM’s previous technical director, tendered his resignation on September 18, 2017, citing personal reasons. Frost became the technical director of BAM on February 23, 2015, signing a contract with the National Sports Council until December 31, 2020, and he was also BAM’s coaching director from 1997-2000.
Following the resignation of Frost, known as ‘Mr Badminton’, his duties were split up to head coaches including Misbun Sidek (men’s singles), Cheah Soon Kit (men’s doubles), Tey Seu Bock (women’s singles), Wong Pei Ty (women’s doubles) and Chin Eei Hui (mixed doubles), and assisted by the Coaching and Training (C&T) Committee.
