New major sponsor Maxis sign two-year deal worth millions with BAM

A timely entry of a new major sponsor set the stage for a trip down memory lane for badminton yesterday.

Maxis Berhad became the latest big sponsor of the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) by signing a two-year deal worth millions. Although no details were given, it is believed the telecommunication giants will provide RM2mil per year. And BAM president Datuk Seri Nadzmi Mohd Salleh had the perfect combo to inspire the players to keep striving for excellence ahead of the Thomas Cup Finals and the Olympic Games.

After the signing ceremony, Nadzmi issued a challenge to the players to maintain badminton’s reputation as one of the country’s core sports.

Early this year, BAM had also worked out a partnership with Maybank via a multi-million deal.

With more money, comes greater accountability and responsibility and Nadzmi has challenged the players to live up to expectations by shining at the Thomas Cup in Wuhan from May 20-27 and the London Olympics from July 27-Aug 12.

The Thomas Cup team, comprising Lee Chong Wei, Liew Daren, Mohd Hafiz Hashim, Chong Wei Feng, Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong, Lim Khim Wah-Goh V Shem, Hoon Thien How-Tan Wee Kiong and their coaches turned up for BAM’s signing ceremony with the telco company at Menara Maxis in Kuala Lumpur.

“Our sport has always been scrutinised and criticised, but the sponsors keep on coming and supporting us. This is a testament of BAM’s success story,” said Nadzmi.

“But players in the BAM should not take this for granted. They must continue to work hard and achieve more, and ensure that the money will continue to be in the coffers. We are not fielding the best team for the Thomas Cup Finals, but they should go all out to meet the top four target. In the Olympics, all eyes will be on Chong Wei to win the gold. All this piles on the pressure but sometimes, with pressure, we can achieve more.”

Nadzmi also paid tribute to all the past badminton heroes for giving the sport a good name – something which have attracted many sponsors to BAM.

He highlighted all the victories of Thomas Cup teams in 1949, 1952, 1955, 1967, 1992 and the Olympic Games medallists – Razif Sidek-Jalani Sidek (1992 Barcelona, bronze), Cheah Soon Kit-Yap Kim Hock (1996 Atlanta, silver), Rashid Sidek (1996 Atlanta, bronze) and Chong Wei (2008 Beijing, silver).

“They built the foundation for badminton and we are here today because of them.

“And we have many sponsors as our partners because of these past winners,” said Nadzmi.

“The current players must carry on from here, so that 20 years down the road we will still be talking about success stories in badminton,” he said.

Nadzmi added that BAM would focus more on development programmes.

“When I became BAM president, the association had a RM3mil deficit. We had to spend time clearing the debts and looking into short-term programmes.

“Now, with more sponsors, we can come out with long-term development programmes. This will ensure a brighter future.”

Others present at the ceremony were Maxis Berhad chairman Raja Tan Sri Datuk Seri Arshad Raja Uda, chief financial officer Nasution Mohd and senior vice president and head of enterprise and government business Fitri Abdullah.

Courtesy of The Star