No go for category B shuttlers for Asian Games

listed under category B by the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM), will not be sent to the Indonesia Asian Games.

BAM president Datuk Seri Norza Zakaria said yesterday this was because of the high standard of the Asiad, and those chosen, must be able to challenge for podium finishes.

However, Norza said BAM have appealed to OCM to include six more players and two coaches into category A, failing which, the national body will go ahead with the 14 players who made the list earlier.

“The OCM had listed 10 male shuttlers, four women, four coaches and one team manager under category A. We have sent in our appeal today, to include six more players. Failing which, the BAM will not be sending the six players, who are now under category B for the Asian Games.

“We must understand that the Asian Games is not a development stage, it’s no place to be experimenting or sending players just for the sake of it. If it was the Sea Games, then it’s fine, but this is the Asian Games.

“We know that OCM only want the top four in Asia. It means the players we send, must be able to challenge for podium finishes.

“After discussing, we decided that if we do not send these players to the Asian Games, we might as well send them for other tournaments, for them to improve on their rankings.”

The Asian Games does not offer ranking points, said Norza, who added that he had explained to the coaches about sending players to the Games with a sense of purpose and KPI (Key Performance Indicators).

The shuttlers who made category A are Lee Chong Wei, Lee Zii Jia, Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin, Leong Jun Hao, Goh V Shem, Tan Wee Kiong, Teo Ee Yi, Ong Yew Sin, Chan Peng Soon, Goh Soon Huat, Goh Liu Ying, Shevon Lai Jemie, Chow Mei Kuan and Lee Meng Yean.

On a separate note, Norza added that the BAM are already looking towards a much leaner and younger squad, following the national team’s poor performance at the Thomas and Uber Cup in Bangkok, last month.

In line with BAM’s youth policy, underperforming players above the age of 21, will be reviewed and could face being dropped from the national squad in August.

At the Thomas Cup, the national men’s team failed to achieve their last four target, crashing out in the quarter-finals, after losing 3-1 to Indonesia, while the women did not even make the knockout stage.