Though I'm a great badminton fan and hope Malaysia will win the World Championship, I don't concur the same thought.
The taxpayers' money should be better spent elsewhere, even if the team wins. The current action by BAM seems prompting they are willing to spend extra in order to win. To make the situation worst, BAM is sending 30 over members there!
I don't see the this overseas training guarantee for winning the championship. Wondering how BAM does the math?
The taxpayers' money should be better spent elsewhere, even if the team wins. The current action by BAM seems prompting they are willing to spend extra in order to win. To make the situation worst, BAM is sending 30 over members there!
I don't see the this overseas training guarantee for winning the championship. Wondering how BAM does the math?
BAM believe 'isolation preparation' can reap success in world meet
By RAJES PAUL
KUALA LUMPUR: The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) will be sending a 30-member team to Bath University in England from Aug 10-Aug 20 as part of their early preparation for the World Championships, which will be held in Paris from Aug 23-29.
But whether it will be a waste of taxpayers' money – amounting to thousands of ringgit – or not remains to be seen.
The team include the eight World Championships qualifiers – Lee Chong Wei, Mohd Hafiz Hashim, Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong, Chin Eei Hui-Wong Pei Tty, Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying.
They will be accompanied by seven sparring players (three singles and four doubles), six coaches (Rexy Mainaky, Rashid Sidek, Misbun Sidek, Pang Cheh Chang, Hendrawan and Teh Seu Bock) and team officials as well as a support team from the National Sports Institute (NSI), which hopefully will not be bigger that the badminton squad.
BAM believe that their new approach would do a world of good for the World Championships-bound players as training at the Bath University will minimise distractions.
BAM's target is to have a finalist each in the men's singles and men's doubles events although their big dream is to see a Malaysian emerge as world champion for the first time.
Hopes are high on the world number ones – Chong Wei and Kien Keat-Boon Heong – to live up to their top rankings in the singles and doubles events.
BAM secretary Ng Chin Chai yesterday defended their move to send the team to Bath.
"Our post-mortem report (after the Thomas Cup Finals) concluded that training in isolation would be good for the players. There will be less distraction and they can focus more on training. They will be able to get sufficient rest too," said Chin Chai.
"Besides, the climate and time difference in Paris is similar to that in England. In fact, it is cheaper for us to stay at the Bath University because of the MoU (Memorandum of Undestanding) signed between the university and the Malaysian government.
"Malaysia have never won the world title and we want to stay focused on achieving success there although it will cost us a little more.
"If we fail at the world meet, it will show that we have failed in our processes. But we think, this approach is worth trying."
BAM general manager Kenny Goh said the team would only be charged £1,300 (RM6,330) for the use of the state-of-art sports facilities at the university.
There will be additional costs for accommodation (ranging from £18-£45 per night), food (£20 per person) and flight.
"The players will be able to use the badminton courts for six hours per day. The use of the swimming pools and gymnasium are for unlimited hours. We believe that this arrangement will be an advantage for our team," said Kenny.
In 2006, Malaysia spent about RM400,000 to train one week earlier in Madrid for the World Championships in Spain. And the outcome – none got past the semi-finals.
Source: TheStar
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