A giant challenge as 33 more check into badminton camp

When the remaining 33 senior team members check into camp on July 5, the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) will tread with caution.

The 17 already in camp, including eight Road to Tokyo (RTT) shuttlers, have all been tested and cleared of Covid-19 and the BAM will have to make sure there is no threat of any new infections at the Academy Badminton Malaysia (ABM).

Monday will also mark the first time the national team training is back in full swing since the movement control order was imposed on March 18. However, the bigger number brings bigger responsibility, said BAM secretary Datuk Kenny Goh.

“We have huge challenges ahead of us. The first phase (of training resumption) involved a small group of RTT players and few teammates as sparring partners so it was easier to handle.

“The quarantine-style training provided a perfect training environment as all players, including the coaches, were confined in the same building.

“But things are going to be different because there is no more lockdown.”

“It poses a new challenge on how we are going to manage a bigger group and we will start practising a new set of SOPs (standard operating procedure). There’s certainly more work to be done now.”

Meanwhile, BAM coaching director Wong Choong Hann explained why the 33 were delayed by four days when they were initially scheduled to check in tomorrow.

“We moved the date to synchronise it with the resumption of training programmes of other sports at the National Sports Council complex in Bukit Jalil,” said Choong Hann.