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BAM management and coaches now promise to work together

KUALA LUMPUR: There was a storm raging outside, but all was calm inside the Badminton Association of Malaysia’s (BAM) office at Stadium Juara in Bukit Kiara yesterday.

The BAM coaching and training committee met yesterday, amidst the thunderstorm, to discuss several thorny issues – mainly about the coaches’ performance.

What was expected to be a fiery affair, ended tamely when both the management and the coaches vowed to work together to build a solid team for the Thomas-Uber Cup Finals in May.

The last few days had seen tension rising when the BAM warned the coaches that heads may roll if Malaysia failed to produce good results in the Thomas Cup Finals.
Luckily, common sense prevailed.

And the committee, headed by deputy president Tengku Kamil Ismail Tengku Idris Shah, even released the names of the squads shortlisted for the men’s and women’s world premier team events, which will be held at Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalil from May 9-16.


The committee also set a semi-final target for both squads.
National chief coach Rashid Sidek said: “The best thing now is for all of us to work together. Let us not blame one another. I am just here to work.”

National doubles chief coach Rexy Mainaky also said that he would also work together with newly appointed coach Tan Kim Her to prepare the team for the Thomas Cup Finals.

“Kim Her has been given three young pairs to work with but that does not mean he will not be part of our Thomas Cup preparation,” said Rexy.

“He has coached South Korea and England before and his input will prove valuable if we meet these teams. He is part of the team.”

BAM secretary P. Ganga Rao said they had accepted the chief coaches’ proposals regarding their planning and training programmes.

“They will be reviewed every three months and our committee chairman (Datuk Nadzmi Mohd Salleh) will monitor their progress every month. Both the coaches and the committee will be accountable for all the decisions made.”

The BAM also have listed several back-up players and they will get a chance to impress the coaches at the German Open in Mulheim from March 2-7.

Only 10 players will be selected for each of the Thomas and Uber Cup challenge.
Malaysia last won the Thomas Cup in 1992 in Kuala Lumpur. In 2002, Malaysia failed to even reach the semi-finals on home ground.

By RAJES PAUL


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