Mindset, not just muscles, will drive badminton forward

The Star

17-07-2025

Hands on: File photo of BAM president Tengku Zafrul visiting players and coaches at the Academy Badminton Malaysia (ABM) in Bukit Kiara. –KAMARUL ARIFFIN
PETALING JAYA: Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) president Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz believes the key to elevating Malaysian badminton lies in one crucial element – mindset.
"The thing that matters most is the mindset – the mindset of players, and the mindset of the management," said Zafrul after a casual discussion with sports editors of the mainstream media on Thursday (July 17).
Since assuming the role in April, Zafrul has been laying the groundwork for a long-term roadmap, holding extensive discussions with stakeholders to assess the state of Malaysian badminton.
"It hasn't even been 100 days yet (as the BAM president), but to be fair, the engagement has been encouraging. My goal from day one was to meet as many stakeholders as possible, and they've been very forthcoming," said Zafrul.
"Now we have a team working on putting the pieces together, and I hope to share our plans with everyone by the end of August. With the support of council members, players, and all parties involved, I believe we can roll out a blueprint that lifts Malaysian badminton to greater heights.
"We are not just thinking short-term but we're looking at a vision for the next three, five, and even ten years."
Zafrul added that while there may be differing opinions, the common denominator among stakeholders is their passion for the sport.
"Everyone wants to see the sport thrives. There are differences in views, sometimes we agree, sometimes we don't but to me, the fact that people care and want to share their thoughts is already a huge positive."
Zafrul confirmed he has met with several key figures, including former players, though he preferred not to disclose details.
"I will share the main takeaways with everyone when I present my proposal in August," he said. "It's also important to study not just what's happening in Malaysia, but globally. I've looked at models from countries with successful badminton programmes to see what we can learn.
While he has yet to meet with the national coaches, National Sports Council (NSC) and the Youth and Sports Ministry officially, Zafrul said those discussions would be crucial in ensuring the necessary support is in place.
When asked about the key focus areas moving forward, Zafrul stressed the importance of first understanding BAM's current position.
"To transform anything, you need to know two things – where you are, and where you want to go. That means taking stock of everything: finances, governance structure, player development, and coaching systems.
"From there, we can map out what it will take to go from. It's a big task, involving everything from grassroots infrastructure to elite performance."
Zafrul acknowledged that expectations are always high when it comes to badminton in Malaysia, which adds to the urgency of having a solid and comprehensive plan.
"I'm not saying the current ecosystem is bad, but clearly, there's room for improvement. It's about aligning all the sectors to meet these expectations."