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NSC telss BAM to focus on major events


THE National Sports Council (NSC), due to budget constraints, has asked the BA
of Malaysia (BAM) to reduce its expenses on competitions and focus on preparations for this year’s four major events.



The directive is with immediate effect as NSC director general Datuk Zolkples Embong, who chairs the joint-committee, has only approved the competition budget until the All England on Mar 9-14.

Lee Chong Wei and men’s doubles Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong and Ong Soon Hock-Hoon Thien How have been given an additional tournament — the Swiss Open on Mar 16-21 — as attention shifts to preparations for the Thomas and Uber Cup Finals on May 9-16 in Kuala Lumpur.


The other major events are the World Championships in Paris on Aug 23-29, Commonwealth Games in New Delhi on Oct 3-14 and the Asian Games in Guangzhou on Nov 12-27.

Zolkples said BAM secretary P. Ganga Rao will bring the matter to the association’s coaching and training committee, which meets next month, and come up with a revised competition budget.

“We have to reduce the allocation for competitions due to budget constraints and the focus should be on the four major events. BAM’s proposal is bigger than what we have allocated and thus, only tournaments up to the All England have been approved,” said Zolkples.
“Winning gold in the World Championships, Asian Games and Commonwealth Games is the priority and as hosts, we must also do well in the Thomas Cup.

“Although Chong Wei has proven his worth, he is not getting any younger and we want him to be around until 2012 (London Olympics). Lin Dan has skipped the first two Super Series events and his focus is on the Thomas Cup, World Championships and obviously to win the Asian Games.

“I don’t want the players to burn out and fail to perform in the major events. The Laos Sea Games was a fine example where Chong Wei had to withdraw and that cost us two gold.

“I also believe trying out Soon Hock-Thien How is a good move and a wake-up call for Zakry Latif-Fairuzizuan Tazari who are struggling.”

NSC has approved just two doubles pairs — Kien Keat-Boon Heong and Soon Hock-Thien How — for the All England while four will be competing in the men’s singles.

The German Open, which will be held on Mar 2-7, will also have limited players where five men’s singles and three doubles pairs have been approved. The three pairs will also play in an additional tournament, the Austrian International Challenge on Feb 22-27

2010/01/28
K.M. Boopathy

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