Source:
REUTERS/ISABEL INFANTES
[Saba
Sports News] The Malaysian Badminton Association is reportedly planning
significant changes after this year’s Paris Olympics, as per reports from Malaysian
media. The association aims to convert all adult national team players into
free agents and shift their focus solely to the development and training of
players between the ages of 16 and 19. This news has garnered significant
attention from domestic media due to concerns that it may not be
player-friendly and could hinder players’ chances of having successful careers.
Moreover, it implies that players who leave after the age of 19 will have to
bear their own expenses to continue participating. Former Badminton Association
of Malaysia director, James Selvaraj, publicly expressed his opposition to
these plans. He believes that while focusing on badminton development is
crucial, it is doubtful how many 19 or 20-year-old players who leave the
Badminton Association of Malaysia can become champions. Selvaraj is a former
high-performance director of the Malaysian Badminton Association, and he has
achieved success in the sport, including winning the men’s singles championship
at the Malaysian National Badminton Championships for three consecutive years
and representing Malaysia in the 1976 Thomas Cup, where they finished as
runners-up. He also won the men’s singles bronze medal in badminton at the 1977
Southeast Asian Games.