BAM set to support qualified shuttler to Basel
From Basel to LA 2028: BAM's Evolution in Supporting Malaysia's Shuttlers (2019‑2026)
In May 2019, the Malaysian badminton community was gripped by a single question: would Lee Zii Jia or Liew Daren have to make way for the legendary Lee Chong Wei at the Basel World Championships? BAM's answer was clear—neither would be dropped. "A country can only have a maximum of two players if both of them are in the top 150 in the world rankings," BAM president Datuk Seri Norza Zakaria confirmed. BAM was unlikely to drop any qualified players to accommodate Chong Wei, whose return to competitive action remained uncertain.[reference:0]
That moment captured a core principle: meritocracy. Qualified shuttlers would keep their spots. But seven years later, BAM's support for its shuttlers has evolved far beyond selection policies. The association has overhauled its coaching structure, launched the transformative Road to Gold (RTG) programme, celebrated Olympic bronze medals in Paris, and is now laying the groundwork for the LA 2028 Olympic cycle. Here is the complete story of how BAM's support for Malaysian shuttlers has been transformed.
📋 The 2019 Starting Point: Meritocracy and the Chong Wei Shadow
The original 2019 article captured a transitional moment. Lee Chong Wei—a three‑time Olympic silver medallist and Malaysian sporting icon—was battling nose cancer and his playing future was uncertain. Meanwhile, a new generation led by Lee Zii Jia was emerging, and BAM faced a delicate balancing act: honouring its greatest player while protecting the opportunities of its rising stars.
BAM's decision to stand by its qualified shuttlers was a statement of principle. But it also revealed the limitations of the system at the time. Support was largely confined to training facilities at Akademi Badminton Malaysia (ABM) and tournament entries. There was no structured pathway for professionals to train alongside BAM players, no formal welfare ecosystem, and no long‑term Olympic blueprint beyond the immediate Tokyo 2020 cycle. The coaching structure was stable but lacked the depth and specialisation that would come later.
💡 Analyst Perspective: The Post‑Chong Wei Era
The 2019 decision was less about selection and more about BAM signalling that the post‑Chong Wei era had begun. By protecting the spots of Lee Zii Jia and Liew Daren, BAM was investing in its future. What it didn't yet have was the comprehensive support ecosystem that would define the next seven years.
🇯🇵 The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Cycle: Foundations for the Future
The Tokyo 2020 Olympics (held in 2021 due to the pandemic) saw Malaysia's best badminton performance in years. Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik won bronze in men's doubles—Malaysia's first Olympic badminton medal since Rio 2016. The achievement validated BAM's investment in doubles and set the stage for what would become the Road to Gold programme.
Behind the scenes, BAM was quietly building infrastructure. The Akademi Badminton Malaysia in Bukit Kiara became a world‑class training facility. During the COVID‑19 pandemic, BAM even opened its doors to independent players for joint training sessions—a practice that would later become formalised under the RTG programme. As BAM secretary‑general Datuk Kenny Goh later noted, "During the Covid‑19 pandemic, we invited independent players to train together."[reference:1]
The pandemic era also forced BAM to rethink its approach to player welfare. Extended lockdowns and tournament cancellations meant players were isolated from competition. BAM responded by enhancing sports science support, mental health resources, and maintaining a full coaching staff throughout the disruption.
🏅 The Road to Gold Programme: Malaysia's Olympic Blueprint
If there is a single initiative that defines BAM's evolution since 2019, it is the Road to Gold (RTG) programme. Launched in 2023, RTG is a government‑backed, high‑performance framework designed to deliver Malaysia's first Olympic gold medal—a quest that has eluded the nation since its Olympic debut in 1956.
The programme identifies elite athletes across sports and provides them with comprehensive support: world‑class coaching, sports science, nutrition, mental conditioning, and financial backing. In badminton, the RTG programme has become the primary vehicle for supporting Malaysia's top shuttlers.
As of 2026, the BAM shuttlers in the RTG programme include:
- Men's Doubles: World No. 2 Aaron Chia‑Soh Wooi Yik and World No. 6 Man Wei Chong‑Tee Kai Wun.[reference:2]
- Women's Doubles: World No. 2 Pearly Tan‑M. Thinaah.[reference:3]
- Mixed Doubles: Reigning world champions Chen Tang Jie‑Toh Ee Wei.[reference:4]
Professional (independent) shuttlers in the RTG programme include men's doubles pair Goh Sze Fei‑Nur Izzuddin Rumsani and mixed doubles pair Goh Soon Huat‑Shevon Lai Jemie.[reference:5]
🇫🇷 Paris 2024: Bronze Medals and Breakthroughs
The Paris 2024 Olympics represented the first major test of the RTG programme. The results were encouraging, if not yet the elusive gold. Malaysia's shuttlers brought home two bronze medals:
- Aaron Chia‑Soh Wooi Yik (Men's Doubles): The pair delivered Malaysia's first medal of Paris 2024, staging a remarkable comeback against Denmark's Kim Astrup‑Anders Skaarup Rasmussen in the bronze medal playoff, winning 16‑21, 22‑20, 21‑19.[reference:8]
- Lee Zii Jia (Men's Singles): The professional shuttler claimed Malaysia's second bronze, overcoming India's Lakshya Sen 13‑21, 21‑16, 21‑11 in a thrilling 71‑minute battle.[reference:9]
The Cabinet formally congratulated the medallists, with Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil stating: "They have gallantly won bronze medals. Thank you also to all the athletes who fought and will be fighting for Malaysia."[reference:10]
Beyond the medals, Paris 2024 demonstrated the strength of Malaysia's doubles programme. Aaron‑Wooi Yik's bronze was Malaysia's second consecutive Olympic medal in men's doubles, following their own bronze in Tokyo. The consistency of this result validated BAM's long‑term investment in doubles development.
🤝 The Joint Training Proposal: Bridging BAM and Professionals
In November 2025, the RTG Committee proposed a groundbreaking initiative: joint training sessions between BAM shuttlers and professional (independent) players, starting from early 2026. The proposal was driven by Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh, who argued that separating the two groups was limiting competitiveness.
"If we don't let them spar together, I feel that they will be lacking in competitiveness," Hannah said. "Their ranking is almost similar. It will be a loss if we do not take advantage of this opportunity."[reference:11]
BAM responded positively. Secretary‑general Datuk Kenny Goh confirmed that the national body was open to the proposal, noting that joint training was not unprecedented. "Having sparring sessions between BAM and independent players is not something new. We have done this before," he said.[reference:12]
The proposal does face practical challenges. BAM players are sponsored by Yonex, while independent pairs like Goh Sze Fei‑Nur Izzuddin are supported by Victor. But Kenny Goh was optimistic: "For me, there are no issues in terms of sponsorships. We can talk to our sponsors. This is not a problem that can't be solved."[reference:13]
💡 Analyst Perspective: A Cultural Shift
The joint training proposal represents more than a logistical arrangement—it signals a cultural shift within Malaysian badminton. For years, there was a perceived divide between BAM players and professionals. Hannah Yeoh's initiative, and BAM's openness to it, suggests that the focus is now squarely on what benefits Malaysian badminton as a whole. This collaborative spirit was unimaginable in 2019, when the relationship between BAM and independent players was more transactional.
🔄 The 2026 Coaching Overhaul: Building for LA 2028
In January 2026, BAM announced its most significant coaching restructure in years. The Performance Committee, chaired by the legendary Datuk Seri Dr Lee Chong Wei, appointed three new coaches to strengthen the national setup:
- Harry Hartono (Indonesia): Appointed as men's singles coach. Hartono previously served as an assistant coach in Indonesia, where he worked with world‑class players including Anthony Sinisuka Ginting and Jonatan Christie.[reference:14][reference:15]
- Yeoh Kay Bin (Malaysia): Appointed as junior men's singles coach. Kay Bin had recently concluded his work with professional men's singles star Lee Zii Jia.[reference:16]
- Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif (Malaysia): Appointed as women's doubles coach, joining head coach Rosman Razak and the existing coaching team.[reference:17]
The appointments reflect BAM's long‑term planning. Lee Chong Wei emphasised that the focus is not just on the present but on the LA 2028 and Brisbane 2032 Olympic cycles.[reference:18] Singles Director Kenneth Jonassen and Doubles Director Rexy Mainaky were closely involved in the selection process, ensuring alignment with the broader performance strategy.
Additionally, Datuk Tey Seu Bock was confirmed as the head of the national men's singles squad in January 2026.[reference:19] The coaching restructure also included a review of local coaches' salaries, with BAM agreeing that compensation "should be reassessed based on performance and other relevant criteria."[reference:20]
📊 World Rankings: Malaysia's Shuttlers at the Top
As of March 2026, Malaysian shuttlers hold elite positions across multiple disciplines—a testament to the effectiveness of BAM's development programmes and the RTG framework.
Men's Doubles
- Aaron Chia‑Soh Wooi Yik: World No. 2 (94,950 points).[reference:22]
- Man Wei Chong‑Tee Kai Wun: World No. 6 (74,283 points).[reference:23]
- Goh Sze Fei‑Nur Izzuddin: World No. 7 (71,830 points).[reference:24]
Women's Doubles
- Pearly Tan‑M. Thinaah: World No. 2 (96,416 points).[reference:25]
Mixed Doubles
- Chen Tang Jie‑Toh Ee Wei: World No. 4 (91,763 points).[reference:26]
Men's Singles
- Lee Zii Jia: After an injury‑plagued period that saw his ranking drop, the 2021 All England champion has climbed back to No. 79 and shows positive momentum. He recently ended a 10‑month winless streak at the 2026 Indonesia Masters.[reference:27]
- Leong Jun Hao: Malaysia's top‑ranked men's singles player at No. 29.[reference:28]
These rankings position Malaysia as a genuine powerhouse in doubles, with three pairs in the world's top seven in men's doubles alone. This depth will be crucial as Malaysia prepares for the 2026 Thomas Cup Finals in Horsens, Denmark.[reference:29]
🛡️ Player Welfare: The "Stay with BAM" Message
In May 2025, Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh made a direct appeal to Malaysian shuttlers: stay under the BAM umbrella rather than turning professional. Her reasoning was practical—BAM provides ready sparring partners, comprehensive government support, and an orderly development system that independent players often lack.
"The advantage of staying with BAM is that they will have ready sparring partners, which is something that will be lacking should they turn pro and which can also affect their performance," Hannah explained. She called on newly‑appointed BAM president Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz to review the association's ecosystem to ensure player welfare is safeguarded.[reference:30]
This message was significant. In 2019, the relationship between BAM and its players was more transactional—qualified players got their spots, but the welfare ecosystem was less developed. By 2025, BAM was actively making the case that its comprehensive support structure offered advantages that independent players could not easily replicate.
💡 Analyst Perspective: The Professionalisation Dilemma
The tension between staying with BAM and turning professional is not new. Lee Zii Jia's departure from BAM in 2022 was a watershed moment. But Hannah Yeoh's "stay with BAM" message reflects a maturing ecosystem. BAM now offers world‑class facilities, sports science support, and—crucially—the RTG programme's resources. The association is no longer just a governing body; it's positioning itself as the optimal pathway to elite performance.
🎯 The Road to LA 2028: What's Next?
With Paris 2024 in the rearview mirror, BAM's focus has shifted decisively to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic cycle. The association's planning is already evident in several key areas:
1. Coaching Stability and Depth
The January 2026 coaching appointments, coupled with the confirmation of Datuk Tey Seu Bock as singles head coach, provide a stable leadership structure through the LA 2028 cycle. The inclusion of Indonesian coach Harry Hartono, who helped develop world‑class players like Ginting and Christie, brings international expertise to the men's singles programme.
2. Youth Development Pipeline
Lee Chong Wei has emphasised that BAM's focus extends beyond the present to the 2028 and 2032 Olympic cycles. The appointment of Yeoh Kay Bin as junior men's singles coach, and the emphasis on continuity for young players, reflects this long‑term vision.[reference:31]
3. Joint Training Implementation
The RTG Committee's proposal for joint training between BAM and professional shuttlers is expected to be implemented in 2026. If successful, it could create a more competitive daily training environment and accelerate the development of all Malaysian shuttlers, regardless of their affiliation.
4. Thomas Cup 2026
Malaysia's strength in doubles positions the team as a serious contender at the 2026 Thomas Cup. World No. 2 Aaron Chia‑Soh Wooi Yik lead a strong lineup that includes Man Wei Chong‑Tee Kai Wun and Goh Sze Fei‑Nur Izzuddin.[reference:32] Soh Wooi Yik has expressed confidence in Malaysia's doubles power: "We can field any two pairs."[reference:33]
📊 BAM's Support for Shuttlers: 2019 vs. 2026
| Area | 2019 (Basel World Championships Era) | 2026 (LA 2028 Cycle) |
|---|---|---|
| Selection Policy | Merit‑based; qualified players kept their spots | RTG programme identifies and supports elite athletes across BAM and professional ranks |
| Coaching Structure | Stable but less specialised; limited international expertise | Expanded coaching team including Indonesian coach Harry Hartono; clear singles/doubles director structure |
| Player Welfare | Basic support; limited formal welfare ecosystem | Comprehensive sports science, mental health resources; Hannah Yeoh's "stay with BAM" appeal |
| BAM‑Professional Relationship | Limited interaction; occasional joint training during COVID‑19 | RTG‑proposed formal joint training starting 2026; collaborative approach to Malaysian badminton |
| Olympic Performance | Post‑Rio 2016; building toward Tokyo | Two bronze medals at Paris 2024; focus shifted to LA 2028 gold |
| World Rankings (Top Pairs) | Limited top‑10 presence across disciplines | World No. 2 in men's doubles and women's doubles; World No. 4 in mixed doubles; three pairs in top 7 of men's doubles |
| Leadership | Datuk Seri Norza Zakaria as BAM president | Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul as BAM president; Lee Chong Wei as Performance Committee chairman |
| Long‑Term Planning | Focus on immediate tournament cycles | Structured planning for LA 2028 and Brisbane 2032 Olympic cycles |
📋 The Bottom Line: Key Takeaways for 2026
🏸 From Meritocracy to Comprehensive Support: In 2019, BAM's primary commitment was merit‑based selection. By 2026, that has evolved into a comprehensive support ecosystem—the RTG programme, expanded coaching, and enhanced player welfare.
🏅 RTG Is Delivering Results: The Road to Gold programme, launched in 2023, has already contributed to Olympic bronze medals in Paris 2024 and supports Malaysia's top shuttlers across both BAM and professional ranks.
🤝 BAM and Professionals Are Bridging the Divide: The 2025 RTG proposal for joint training, and BAM's openness to it, signals a cultural shift toward collaboration for the benefit of Malaysian badminton.
🔄 Coaching Overhaul for LA 2028: The January 2026 appointments—including Indonesian coach Harry Hartono and junior coach Yeoh Kay Bin—demonstrate BAM's long‑term planning for the LA 2028 and Brisbane 2032 cycles.
📊 Malaysia Is a Doubles Powerhouse: With Aaron Chia‑Soh Wooi Yik at World No. 2, Pearly Tan‑M. Thinaah at World No. 2, and three pairs in the top seven of men's doubles, Malaysia is positioned as a genuine Thomas Cup contender.
🧠 Lee Chong Wei's Leadership Matters: The three‑time Olympic silver medallist's role as Performance Committee chairman brings player‑centric insight to coaching appointments and long‑term planning.
🎯 The Focus Is LA 2028: BAM's coaching appointments, youth development emphasis, and RTG programme are all aligned toward a single goal—delivering Malaysia's first Olympic gold medal in Los Angeles.
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