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PETALING JAYA: Wong Tat Meng is unhappy with the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) preventing independent players from training at Akademi Badminton Malaysia (ABM) in Bukit Kiara if they do not wear apparel from the same sponsor as the national team.
BAM’s current sponsor is Japanese sports equipment brand Yonex.
The coach of independent men’s singles shuttler Lee Zii Jia is especially upset with the new rule as the World Championships is set to start next week in Copenhagen.
“Before the World Championships, BAM informed us that professionals cannot wear apparel from brands other than BAM’s sponsors if they want to train together on Wednesdays,” he said on Thursday (Aug 17).
“I was really surprised by this, considering it was enforced amidst the preparations for the World Championships.
“Since December last year, BAM has invited Zii Jia (and other top independent players) to train with national players every Wednesday, and we are honoured to be able to achieve a win-win situation, including helping the BAM raise their level.
“This sponsorship conflict is not only BAM’s consideration, it also affects our team, which not only consists of Zii Jia, but also our coaching staff, fitness and physio experts.
“Due to this, we were unable to fulfil the training invitation at ABM before flying to Denmark.
“When BAM insisted on this while we were all preparing for a big competition, it personally felt like I was being bullied by those in power.
“BAM often says that it does not matter whether one is a national or professional player, because we are all Malaysians, and the glory is shared. But this rule does not reflect that (thinking),” he said.
Besides Zii Jia, other top independent players who have been training once a week in ABM are the country’s No 1 women’s singles player Goh Jin Wei, men’s doubles pair Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi and mixed doubles pair Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie.
