V Shem reveals real reason why he and Wee Kiong quit the BAM

PETALING JAYA: Newly independent shuttlers Goh V Shem, Tan Wee Kiong, Chan Peng Soon and Goh Liu Ying are unlikely to be part of the soon-to-be launched revised Podium Programme.

The Rio Olympics silver medal-winning quartet were among the 14 shuttlers – eight men and six women – recommended by the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) to the National Sports Council (NSC) for the top-tier government-funded programme last November.

But the four of them will have to forgo the treatment and privileges they previously enjoyed, now that they have left the national team.

The BAM are expected to nominate new shuttlers to replace them when they meet NSC in a joint-working committee this month.

The National Sports Associations (NSA) have the prerogative to select their athletes to be funded under the Programme and BAM secre- tary Datuk Ng Chin Chai has made it clear previously that priority will only be given to the shuttlers under their purview.

It remains to be seen if the NSC will offer them places in the Programme, considering V Shem-Wee Kiong and Peng Soon-Liu Ying are not only seen as bright prospects at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics but they are also reigning Olympic medallists.

Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman had assured Peng Soon-Liu Ying of continuous backing last month, but did not elaborate to what extent.

NSC director-general Datuk Ahmad Shapawi Ismail was non-committal when asked whether the NSC would consider roping them into the Programme even without BAM’s nomination.

“I can’t comment on anything for now. We will have to discuss with the BAM on the matter when the working committee meet this month,” said Ahmad Shapawi when contacted yesterday.

Badminton is one of the sports besides diving and track cycling that are placed at the top of the newly-revamped four-tier Programme, which unified the Podium and Kita Juara Programmes under one roof.

The second, third and fourth tiers are for the Asian and Commonwealth Games, SEA Games and non-Games respectively. The four-tier Programme is set to be launched by the end of January.

By going independent, V Shem-Wee Kiong and Peng Soon-Liu Ying are set to lose out especially on the support services from the National Sports Institute (NSI) and access to their worldclass facilities.

Liu Ying, particularly, was among those who benefitted from NSI’s support, having twice made successful returns from her previous career-threatening injuries in 2014 (knee) and 2017 (shoulder).