Smashing sponsorship for grassroots
THE increase in corporate sponsorship among local badminton clubs is seen as a good sign for grassroots development in Malaysia.
This was the sentiment of independent shuttler K. Yogendran, who on behalf of his club, New Vision Badminton Academy (NVBA), yesterday signed a RM300,000 deal with sports brand Fleet International Holdings Sdn Bhd.
Yogendran, 35, is also bound for the World Championships in Glasgow, Scotland this month, competing in the mixed doubles with Indian national Prajakta Sawant.
“For independent shuttlers like us, it is not easy because badminton is not a cheap sport,” said Yogendran after the signing ceremony at Wisma OCM (Olympic Council of Malaysia).
“Take this World Championships for example, we have to fork out our own money, and a trip to Glasgow is not cheap. All in all including our coaches, we would need at least RM35,000).
“So we welcome sponsorship deals, and we are thankful to have Fleet show their support for all our hard work.”
The one-year deal, which is in cash and kind, is for all four elite shuttlers at the club including former BA of Malaysia (BAM) shuttler Goh Giap Chin, women’s singles K.Letshanaa and six junior shuttlers.
“Sponsorship deals are definitely a good sign for local badminton clubs as it shows that more and more people are doing their part in helping raise the level of the sport.
“BAM are the national association, but we cannot just depend on them alone, clubs will have to play their part in helping the national body produce more players. At the end of the day, we are all playing for the country.”
Yogendran-Prajakta open their campaign at the world meet (Aug 21-27) against Taiwan’s Lu Ching Yao-Chiang Kai Hsin.
Also present at the ceremony yesterday were Fleet International’s managing director Teo Tong Wah, BAM’s honorary treasurer Datuk V. Subramaniam, OCM’s assistant secretary general Datuk Sieh Kok Chi and NVBA’s manager R.Manojkumar. Fabian Peter