Malaysia Badminton Future

Malaysian Team recently concluded our competition for Thomas and Uber Cups in Jakarta, Indonesia. Of the performance putting in at the show, we can say it's generally satisfying. First we met our expectation and target of qualifying to Semi-Finals for Thomas Cup team and although Women's team fail to achieve the target of Semi-Finals berth, but along the road they put on some brave fight against some of the top players.

So as comparing to most of our previous outings, this one could be said a satisfactory ones. It's also good to see the Thomas Cup team put on a brave fight against the mighty chinese, and they are just so close to beating them again. Unfortunately, I could said luck is not on our side this time round.

That apart, we do see some worrying scenario within the Malaysian teams. There're some players retiring after this year's Beijing Olympic games, and we still have not seen anyone capable of taking over their roles as replacement.

Let's begins with men's team. Apart from Lee Chong Wei, Koo Kean Kiat, Tan Boon Heong, Fairurizuan, Zakri and Arif, there's no one else in the country that we are able to rely on coming the next Thomas Cup competition. Not least from the current situation. We cannot just rely on the above three to win all their matches and expecting Malaysia to go thru base on these three only. Remember there are other top players everywhere and they are as good as our players.

So BAM should start to expose all their available and calibre players to world stage in order for them to gain as much international experience as possible. One thing I do not understand BAM or Malaysia's Sports Body policy. As compare to other country's policy they would let their future start expose to gain more experience around so when time comes they would just take over from their seniors.

As we can all see from past and present, and possibly future, Malaysia government of sports ministry always come up with Project this and Project that to find new talents, set up program for their development, and all sort of structure for their development skills. Yet when comes to competing, they were always being restricted to local competition.

Just wonder how much would they gain by playing a tournament filled with players they see day in day out? How could they possibly perform against top world class player if their style of plays and exposure always restricted to local lads only? I'm not saying local players aren't good, but they've meet all of them day in day out, and knowing all their style of play, sure they wouldn't gain much, whereas they would then drop back in term of developments.

Looking at our neighbour country like Thailand and Indonesia, whenever they found a new talent, they would train and develop them up to a certain level, then would unleash them onto international stage to perform. That's exactly what BAM should do and given more exposure to the younger player will help their mental strength as well. That's another reason why our players always fail when it matter most.

It's been too long since Malaysia operating with such policy and it's already a proven failure and if this doesn't change, there will be always a Semi-Finals target for Thomas and Uber Cup competitions, and probably a medal target for Olympic Games and other major tournaments.

If anyone of you don't agree, please post your comment here! Thanks for your precious time reading my crab....