NOT IN A HURRY
Shuttlers likely to resume national training in June
MALAYSIAN badminton is only likely to be back in business in June after the Covid-19 turmoil.
BAM president Datuk Seri Norza Zakaria said the national body will wait for the standard operating procedure (SOP) from the Sports Ministry and National Sports Council (NSC) before recalling their players for training at the Academy Badminton Malaysia in Bukit Kiara.
After attending the Tokyo Olympics steering committee meeting yesterday, Norza said: “We need to create a new training ecosystem that will comply with strict health standards.
“We cannot just think of the welfare of our players, but everyone who makes up the national academy, including our staff and other support service personnel.
“If anything, the soonest BAM would resume training is in June.”
All national players, including those in the junior squads, have been keeping fit at home since the Movement Control Order (MCO) came into effect in March.
On Friday, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced that the government will conditionally lift the MCO this week as part of the fourth phase.
Norza, who attended the meeting chaired by Sports Minister Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican, said it was a touch base meeting for the minister with the National Sports Associations (NSA), who are preparing athletes for the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics next year.
“The minister wanted to hear from the NSAs themselves.
“How have they been coping with the MCO? What are some of the new qualifying systems and how they intend to move forward with their training programmes?” added Norza, who is also the Olympic Council of Malaysia president.
The meeting was also attended by Paralympic Council of Malaysia president Datuk Seri Megat D. Shahriman Zaharudin and NSC director-general Datuk Ahmad Shapawi Ismail.