Tengku Zafrul: Mindset, not just muscles, will drive badminton forward
'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 yesterday.
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 10 years.'
'To transform anything, you need to know two things – where you are, and where you want to go.
'From there, we can map out what it will take to go from.'
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.'
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