* BAM’s new technical director Morten Frost reports for duty
* BAM signs lucrative new six-year sponsorship deal with Victor worth RM60 million
The month of March is a new beginning for the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) with high hopes that Malaysia will re-establish itself as a powerhouse in the game.
First, Denmark’s Morten Frost, known as “Mr Badminton” reported for duty for his second stint in Malaysia after his first stint as national coaching director from 1997 to 1999.
Malaysian badminton, which has hit a low somewhat the last one year, hope the lanky Dane will be able to produce another world beater and help Malaysia win a gold medal at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.
In spite of the current doldrums, Malaysia still have not lost track of winning the gold at the Rio Olympics in Brazil next year.
Putting that aside, the national badminton body has ended its decade-long sponsorship deal with Yonex and welcomed Taiwan’s Victor on board. The new sponsorship deal was signed in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday and described by BAM president Tan Sri Tengku Mahaleel Tengku Arif as a “huge boost” for the development of the game in the country.
Tengku Mahaleel said the elite and junior players in the national squad will benefit from the deal as Victor will also assist in the development programmes apart from sponsoring equipment.
The badminton supremo also revealed that Victor will also adopt players and added that “it will benefit the players” in their badminton career. Recently the BAM announced that the players will get an increase in their monthly allowance that have been backdated to Jan 1 2015.
According to Tengku Mahaleel the bid by Victor was the best of the five submitted to the BAM.
