PLAYERS CRY FOUL OVER LATE PAYMENTS

Professional shuttlers claim BAM owed them RM100,000 in prize money

PATIENCE is wearing thin for several Malaysian professional shuttlers, who have yet to receive their prize money from various tournaments since January. It is understood that this has been the longest time these players have been made to wait by the BA of Malaysia (BAM). In the past, they would get their prize money in three or four months.

The players, who depend on the money for tournament expenses and training, are frustrated and upset.

“We understand the money comes from BWF (Badminton World Federation), but they usually take a month or so to transfer the money to the national body.

“We don’t know why it is taking so long for the money to reach us,” said a player who does not want to be named, in an exclusive interview with NSTP Sport.

While there is no confirmation on the exact figure, it is learnt to be about RM100,000 in total.

“It does not only demoralise us during training, but it also affects our preparation as we depend on this money for our travel expenses when we play in tournaments overseas.

“In the past 10 years, this has been the longest we have been made to wait.

“The worse thing is when we find out that foreign players, who played in the same tournaments, have already received their payments,” added another shuttler.

Apart from podium finishers, the shuttlers who make the round of 16 in tournaments are guaranteed prize money.

Among the notable players from Malaysia plying their trade in the world circuit are independent shuttlers Goh Giap Chin, K. Yogendran, Chong Wei Feng, Tan Boon Heong, Mohd Arif Latif, Nur Azriyn Ayub, R.Satheishtharan and 2018 World Championships bronze medallist Liew Daren.