The axe will fall on the non-performers, both players and coaches alike if they fail to check Malaysia’s continued slide in the sport in international tournaments.
Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) supremo Datuk Seri Norza Zakaria issued the ultimatum after a meeting with all the five head coaches at Academy Badminton Malaysia on Wednesday.
The five head coaches are Datuk Misbun Sidek (men’s singles), Cheah Soon Kit (men’s doubles), Datuk Tey Seu Bok (women’s singles), Rosman Razak (women’s doubles) and Chin Ee Hui (mixed doubles).
This came in the wake of Malaysia’s dismal performance at the recent All England Champions which ended in Birmingham on Sunday.
Four-time winner and defending champion Datuk Lee Chong Wei failed to defend his men’s singles title – losing to his old foe – China’s Lin Dan in the semi-finals.
There was also disappointment in the mixed doubles when last year’s runners-up Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying went out in the second round while Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie fell in the first round – just days after winning the German Open.
Norza has given the coaches and the players three months to stop the rot and get into shape to keep Malaysia as a badminton powerhouse.
A disappointed Norza did not hide his disappointment in pointing out “I am not happy with Teo (Ee Yi) and Ong (Yew Sin)” who are the number two pair in the country.
As a warning and to mean business Norza announced three former national shuttlers – Azriyn Ayub, Arif Latif and Lim Khim Wah – have been brought into the national squad on a three-month probation to beef up the doubles department.
“They can even make the Thomas Cup squad if they can impress us,” said Norza. – BY RIZAL ABDULLAH
