Badminton: Misbun's last chance

MISBUN Sidek, who has yet to accept the new contract from the BA of Malaysia (BAM), must do so before the executive council meets today or look elsewhere for a coaching job.

BAM president Datuk Seri Nadzmi Salleh had, over the weekend, strongly hinted that today's Exco meeting will be the deadline for Misbun to accept or decline the offer but he is hopeful the coach will continue nurturing BAM players.

However, Misbun has a habit of keeping it to the last moment to announce his decisions but in this case, hasn't much of a choice.

BAM general manager Kenny Goh confirmed that there hasn't been any official word from Misbun up till yesterday and said the Exco will deliberate on the matter.
The parent body has offered Misbun to coach several back-up players including his son Misbun Ramdan and will also consider putting an elite player, most likely Tan Chun Seang, into the group.

Currently, Hendrawan is in charge of the nine back-up singles players but the Indonesian coach has accepted BAM's decision and will focus on five players.

The only issue that may be holding Misbun back is the fact that he will not be coaching anymore and that the badminton fraternity will see that as a demotion but he will have to start afresh at some point.

The transition will definitely happen when Lee Chong Wei calls it a day after next year's Olympics when a number of back-up players will be promoted to the elite squad and Misbun will be back doing what he does best.

BAM has also offered Wong Mew Choo, who retired from the international scene a few weeks ago, a coaching job to guide the girls' singles players at Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) but she has asked for more time to decide on her future.

Comments

Ex-coach's jail sentence cut to a year

PUTRAJAYA: The Court of Appeal yesterday sentenced former athletics coach C. Ramanathan to 12 months' jail for molesting two junior athletes 19 years ago. A three-man bench led by Datuk Mohd Hishamudin Mohd Yunus unanimously dismissed Ramanathan's appeal against conviction, but varied the jail sentence of four years to a year, which was to run concurrently. Following yesterday's ruling, Ramanathan, 75, a former teacher, walked out a free man as he had served 10 months in Kajang Prison. Convicts get one-third remission for good behaviour while in prison. However, he will lose his pension. Hishamudin, who sat with Datuk Abdul Wahab Patail and Datuk Linton Albert, said the court found no merit to overturn the conviction. "However, in reducing the sentence, we considered Ramanathan's age and the long years the appeal has taken." Deputy public prosecutor Awang Armadajaya Awang Mahmud submitted that then High Court judge Tan Sri Abdull Hamid E...

Govt Always Gives Emphasis To Sporting Culture, Says PM

KUALA TERENGGANU, May 29 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badaw i said the government always gives emphasis on cultivating a strong sporting culture in achieving excellence at the international level. As such, the Prime Minister said, it was important to scout for young talents in sports. "I observe that the Malaysia Games (Sukma) has become one of the important platforms to do so. "In this arena, the potentials and skills of the youngsters can be identified for development so that they can achieve greater success in sports," he said in his message in the souvenir book of the 12th Sukma from May 31 until June 9. Abdullah said he was aware that competition in sports was very keen and challenging but this did not mean that Malaysian athletes were incapable of competing at the international level. "The fact is that we have all the characteristics required to be excellent. We must inculcate a strong fighting spirit so that we don't easily surrender,...

Chance to catch Messi and company

FAM deputy president Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah and vice president Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin with FC Barcelona chief executive officer Antoni Rossich yesterday. Pic by Osman Adnan LIONEL Messi's presence alone could sell half the tickets despite reigning world club champions FC Barcelona's date with a Malaysian XI at the National Stadium on Aug 10 falling on the third day of Hari Raya. The much anticipated visit of the four-time European champions comes with expectations from fans who want a full star-studded line-up. "The summer will be a busy period with a lot of uncertainty with players moving away and coming in. "But yes, our plans are to bring our full team here," said FC Barcelona chief executive officer Antoni Rossich yesterday. Rossich was speaking at the announcement of the friendly match, which is part of the three-match FC Barcelona Asia Tour 2013, which sees the giants also visiting China and Thailand. Also pre...

Malaysian Sports - Today's back pages!

Search This Blog