BAM to blame for loss of two key Uber Cup players

KUALA LUMPUR: The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) are to blame for the lack of foresight in losing two important players in the team for the Uber Cup Finals, which ended on Saturday.

The late exit of singles shuttlers Julia Wong and Lydia Cheah from the cast in the Finals could have been avoided if the team’s motivation camp, which was held a week before the Finals, had strictly been about psyching up the players’ morale.

Lydia and Julia aggravated their injuries while participating in physical activities during the camp but the BAM decided to sweep the matter under the carpet.

This incident forced the BAM to replace Lydia and Julia with Sannatasah Saniru and Sonia Cheah.

The absence of the duo diluted the team’s strength and Malaysia eventually failed in their mission to make a semi-final breakthrough. They were beaten 0-3 by Indonesia in the quarter-finals.

All this could have been avoided if the BAM had held the motivation camp much earlier and monitored the programme and activities of the camp.

To subject the players to an army training stint during the motivation camp was a big risk, especially with the Finals just being one week away.

It was a painful lesson but one that the BAM should remember and take consideration when they sit down to plan for their future tournaments.

Supremo needed to plan and chart future of the game

By RAJES PAUL

KUALA LUMPUR: A 0-3 whitewash by China in the Thomas Cup semi-finals revealed two painful facts about Malaysia.

The first was clear evidence of the Malaysian players’ lack of depth against the formidable and skilful Chinese.

The second was the absence of a supremo – to plan, chart and strategise the future of Malaysian badminton in an efficient and professional manner.

Malaysia’s weaknesses were highlighted in a most painful way last Friday when the country’s world No. 1s, Lee Chong Wei and Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong, were made to look small by their cool and confident opponents, Lin Dan and Cai Yun-Fu Haifeng respectively.

It also showed the country’s over dependency on Chong Wei and Kien Keat-Boon Heong as the others were certainly not in the same league with the Chinese or even the Danes and Japanese.

Hafiz turned hero for Malaysia when he clinched the winning point against Joachim Persson to take the team to the semi-finals. It was an important win to salvage the pride after a 2-3 humiliating defeat by Japan in the group tie. But whether Hafiz can rise to the challenges in the near future to face greater giants from China is still a big question mark.

It is evident that the lack of talent in the singles department is alarming while inconsistency in the doubles department are unbecoming.

Coaches put the blame on the lack of quality in the players and the players blame themselves for their inability to handle pressure.

The cycle has been going for ages and it’s time that the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) take some of the heat and make drastic changes for the good of the sport.

The association need a coaching director. One with a clear vision for the future and one who will not be satisfied with short-term goals and shortcuts to success.

This supremo has to look into the junior and senior programmes. He has to ensure that there is a solid transition programme when a junior makes his break into the senior ranks.

But what really happens now is that a world junior champion makes his grade into the senior squad and sinks into oblivion.

Currently, the coaching and training committee, headed by the BAM president, Datuk Nadzmi Mohd Salleh, is responsible for the short and long-term planning and the success of the junior and senior teams.

Unfortunately, the committee did not even meet before the Thomas-Uber Cup Finals. Malaysia only had about six weeks to get down to the preparation work and the coaches had to come up with last-minute plans, including rushing for a simulation tie and three-day motivation camp.

It was obvious that the BAM were not totally prepared for the Finals. The players were only allowed to use the Putra Stadium five days before the Finals and due to the lack of early planning, veteran Wong Choong Hann was recalled to add depth to the team. They could have identified a younger player two years ago and exposed him to many tournaments as part of preparations to form a solid team for the Finals.

Malaysia’s success in winning the Thomas Cup in 1992 was the result of four years of hard work. Then, Malaysia had those with character and authority to chart the future of the sport in the country.

And when the BAM review the performances in the 2010 Thomas Cup Finals, they should be looking far and work towards restructuring their coaching and training set-up.

My Opinion :

BAM sacking of its secretary Ganga just two weeks before the Thomas cup and Uber cup shows there's unseen warfare within BAM . Then the hiring of foreign coaches when there are capable local coaches who understands the situation and personal interaction with players better . It makes me wonder why they fielded a doubles pair during the Japanese/Malaysia tie who has been losing practically in every major tournament when there are pairs from the Junior squad who has been making news and winning tournaments overseas ? Why are these pairs not fielded to give them the chance to prove themselves ?

Why hire Tan Kim Her and put him in charge of youngsters when he has coached the Korean Team before and the English team ? Is this the way BAM runs its organisation ? Why field a veteran as the second singles when there are others waiting to fill in the slots ? This is indeed a morale and confidence killer !

And finally , BAM does not practise Meritocracy when only the best should have been fielded in a Thomas cup tournament . BAM should undergo a major over haul including removing its President . Sad to say just too many questionable coaches and no one to take over from Lee Chong Wei .