Malaysian Badminton Association Adjusts Lee Chong Wei's Perspective on Asian Team Championships 2024
Leon To
Thu Feb 29 2024
The President of the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM), Tan Sri Mohamad Norza Zakaria, has addressed the concerns raised by former world number one men's singles player Lee Chong Wei regarding the state of Malaysian badminton. While acknowledging the validity of Chong Wei's worries, Norza insists that BAM is intensifying its efforts to prepare the national team for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
In a recent statement, Mohamad Norza emphasized that although Lee Chong Wei has expressed the need for significant changes within the Malaysian badminton setup, time constraints make it challenging to implement drastic alterations before the upcoming Olympic Games. Norza revealed that he had discussions with Chong Wei, who expressed concerns for the Malaysian players, despite the team's recent runner-up finish in the Badminton Asia Team Championships (BATC) due to unexpected injuries.
Furthermore, Mohamad Norza highlighted the ongoing communication between BAM and Chong Wei, who is a member of the Road to Gold (RTG) program committee and involved in managing the national badminton team's Paris Olympics preparations. Norza expressed his hope that the three-time Olympic silver medalist could potentially serve full-time to share his expertise and mentor the national team in the future.
Norza also pointed out that BAM values Chong Wei's input and anticipates his potential involvement post-Paris 2024 Olympics. Despite receiving positive feedback from Chong Wei, Norza emphasized the importance of confining criticisms within the BAM framework for constructive development.
As Malaysian badminton gears up for the Paris 2024 Olympics, the dialogue between BAM and Lee Chong Wei underscores a collaborative effort to enhance the national team's performance. While acknowledging Chong Wei's concerns and suggestions, BAM aims to navigate the challenges and strive for continuous improvement in the sport.