Badminton Development Should Be Intensified, Says Misbun

MELAKA, May 23 (Bernama) -- The badminton development programme in the country should be intensified to be on par with that of other countries, especially China, national singles coach Datuk Misbun Sidek said Sunday.

He said China had been giving its young shuttlers intensive training from the age of 13 and when they reached 17 or 18, most of them had become world-class shuttlers.

"In Malaysia, we usually wait until they finish secondary school (17 years old) before we give them intensive training.

"By then, we are three or four years behind," he told reporters when met at the closing of the Nusa Mahsuri Badminton Camp by Melaka Welfare, Unity, Youth and Sports Committee chairman Datuk Ab Karim Ab Sulaiman, here, today.

Misbun said the camp, organised annually over the past 10 years, was opened only to those aged eight to 12, in a bid to develop their talent before they reached 17.

After attending the camp, the young shuttlers would be exposed to badminton tournaments at the school, state and national levels, and those with the potential to shine in the sport, would be recommended to join the Bukit Jalil Sports School, he added.

-- BERNAMA

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