Tangkis 2030 targets Thomas Cup, Olympic gold, says Tengku Zafrul
The plan, presented during BAM's council meeting at the Academy Badminton Malaysia (ABM) in Bukit Kiara on Saturday (Aug 16), outlines five major targets including winning the Thomas Cup in 2026, securing a gold medal at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, producing world No. 1 players in three out of five categories, and two long-term goals — developing a sustainable pipeline of champions and building a healthier Malaysia.
To achieve the Thomas Cup target in Horsens, Denmark next year, Tengku Zafrul has proposed a 'Road to Thomas Cup' project to end the nation's 34-year title drought. Malaysia last lifted the prestigious trophy in 1992.
'I want to be clear that the plan will first be shared with all the state councils to get their input and views. We will then finalise it into a full-fledged plan to be officially adopted by the BAM council. Our aspiration is to produce champions on the global stage, build a steady pipeline of world-class athletes and reinvigorate badminton as a sport.
"We want to rally not just the athletes but also the sponsors and the badminton community behind this programme. It has been done before. In fact, when I was reading up on the previous Thomas Cup campaign, there was also a 'Road to Thomas Cup' project, and we won it that year," said Tengku Zafrul.
He also proposed bringing in four external experts to strengthen BAM as a whole. They include world badminton legend Datuk Seri Lee Chong Wei to focus on athletes and performance, former NTV7 and Celcom CEO Datuk Seri Shazaily Ramly to drive BAM's branding and marketing, Tan Sri Gooi Hoe Soon with his vast experience in accounting and corporate finance to manage financial matters, and Datuk Suni Abraham to provide legal expertise.
Development remains a key priority. Tengku Zafrul said he will engage stakeholders — state associations, clubs, and schools — to ensure a continuous talent pool.
For junior players currently training at ABM, improvements in nutrition and allowances are on the way.
'We also want to improve the nutrition of our athletes and coaches. I shared with them that starting from Sept 1, we will upgrade the quality of food at the academy.
"Currently, the government allocation is about RM35 per person per day for food. From Sept 1, we will double the budget to about RM70 to RM75 so that the athletes and coaches can enjoy better nutrition. We're also reviewing monthly allowances,' added Tengku Zafrul.
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