This means Chong Wei, 29, will miss the opportunity of adding a possible Sea Games gold to his collection as he is likely to retire at the end of 2012.
BAM coaching and training committee chairman Ng Chin Chai said the other players under the Road to London programme -- Wong Mew Choo, women's doubles Wong Pei Tty-Chin Eei Hui and mixed doubles Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying -- will be playing in the Sea Games.
"It was decided recently that top athletes from various sports under the programme be exempted from the Sea Games so Chong Wei and Kien Keat-Boon Heong will give it a miss," said Chin Chai.
"This is to allow them to focus on their preparations for the London Olympics. It is also midway through the qualifying period.
"As for Pei Tty-Eei Hui, the priority is qualifying for the Olympics and if they are not in good position, they may have to forego and focus on the qualifiers. Otherwise, they will be playing in the Sea Games."
The coaching and training committee (CTC), which met yesterday, also decided that there is no need to promote any of the back-up players to the elite squad to fill the vacancy left by Hafiz Hashim as the new structure allows the coaches a longer period to see results.
Arif Latif and Goh Soon Huat were in the running to claim the spot after high performance director Datuk James Selvaraj had proposed the matter but the CTC felt the changes are a little too early.
CTC also approved Gan Teik Chai-Tan Bin Shen to spar with the national doubles squad but will be limited to two days a week, while the women's squad get Razif Latif and Chau Pak Chuu for sparring.
The committee also agreed to a one-year probation for new players Tan Aik Quan and Tan Yip Jun.
Aik Quan will be joining the mixed doubles squad while Yip Jun replaces Goh Sze Onn, who rejected an offer to join the back-up squad, after completing his stint as a junior.
Courtesy of New Straits Times
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