BAM plan major structural revamp after the Olympics

A SPECIAL Project 2016 squad. New coaches. New methods. And a brand new attitude.

Expect major changes to take place when the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) make another structural revamp after the London Olympics.

Special attention will be given to selected juniors and the BAM may also hunt for other coaches – like Zhou Mi, Park Joo-bong, Misbun Sidek, Wong Tat Meng and Li Mao – who can fit into their plans.

There will be workshops and brain-storming sessions to find the right method to train the players – whether to focus on centralised or de-centralised training and whether to adopt China or South Korea’s way of doing things.

One thing is for sure, some of the “dead” states will have to wake up and start producing talents.

BAM coaching and training committee chairman Ng Chin Chai said yesterday that Malaysia cannot depend on the current crop of the players for the 2016 Olympic Games.

He added that they will have to make drastic changes after Malaysia suffered another disappointing outing at the Thomas Cup Finals in Wuhan.

Some of the elite players, like Lee Chong Wei, may stick around for another year or two after the London Games to help with the transition period but priority will be given to selected juniors in the national team.

Chin Chai said there are about 12 shuttlers that he could pick to form a team for the future.

He was of course referring to Misbun Ramdan Misbun, Iskandar Zulkarnain, Goh Soon Huat, Zulfadli Zulkifli (men’s singles); Teo Ee Yi-Nelson Heg Wei Keat, Chooi Kah Ming-Ow Yao Han (men’s doubles); Sonia Cheah, Yang Li Lian (women’s singles); and Chow Mei Kuan-Lee Meng Yean (women’s doubles).

“As the CNT chairman, I am responsible for our programme and product (players). I will be the first person to go if we continue to fail. There will be drastic changes after the Olympic Games in London to change our current set-up,” said Chin Chai.

“We have to look ahead – we have the Thomas Cup Finals two years down the road and the next big one – the 2016 Olympic Games. We cannot depend on the current crop of players – not most of them anyway – for 2016.

“We have a few potential juniors and they will come under Project 2016. We will scout for more coaches too.”

Asked what will happen to current coaches and players: “Some will have to go if they have not played their parts. Everything will be reviewed after the London Games.

“We need to instil a high level of discipline in the squad and give the coaches a free hand to work with the players.”

On re-energising the state BAs, Chin Chai said that “the foundation work has been laid”.

“All the states have been given RM2mil to strengthen their programmes. We have hired many Indonesian coaches for our states. We can see the fruit of their work, maybe, in eight years’ time,” he said.

“We are confident more talents will be identified ... but we (Chin Chai and the team) may not be around to see the seed take root and grow.”

For now, he said, the focus would be on Chong Wei, Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong and Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying for the London Games.

Chong Wei needs to recover quickly from his ankle injury to be a genuine gold medal contender at the Games; Kien Keat-Boon Heong have to regain their old form to raise their chances of winning a medal; and Peng Soon-Liu Ying have to be more consistent to deliver the goods.

“We will not make any drastic changes now as it will disrupt our preparations for the London Games. For now, the focus will be on ending our wait for the first gold at the Olympics.”

Courtesy of The Star