KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysian badminton continues to thrive on the global stage, thanks to the dedication and contributions of Tan Sri Mohamad Norza Zakaria.
In recognition of his dedication, the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) council has unanimously appointed Norza as the organisation’s first-ever honorary life president.
The announcement came today from BAM acting president Datuk V. Subramaniam during a press conference at Akademi Badminton Malaysia (ABM), joined by secretary-general Datuk Kenny Goh and coaching director Rexy Mainaky.
Norza, who served as BAM president for two terms from 2017 to 2024, stepped down after the Paris Olympics in August.
During his tenure, Malaysian badminton reached new heights, including two bronze medals at the 2024 Olympics—courtesy of men’s doubles pair Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik, and former men’s singles ace Lee Zii Jia.
Although relinquishing his BAM role, Norza, who is also the president of the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM), remains actively involved in badminton.
As the honorary president of Badminton Asia, he has been nominated by top Asian nations for a seat on the Badminton World Federation (BWF) council for the upcoming term.
Speaking to Scoop, Norza expressed gratitude for the recognition and reflected on his years of service to Malaysian badminton.
“This is largely a ceremonial appointment, but it is deeply meaningful. It shows that my contributions to the sport over the years have not gone unnoticed.
“I will still follow and monitor the sport closely from afar but will always be available if BAM seeks my advice,” he said.
Norza also highlighted how his role as a vice-president of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) has further elevated Malaysia’s badminton on the global stage.
“Since taking on the role of OCA vice-president, Malaysia has been recognised as a centre of excellence in badminton, largely due to the state-of-the-art facilities we have at ABM.
“OCA believes Malaysia is well-positioned to help developing nations improve in the sport. Rest assured, Malaysian badminton remains recognised and well-protected on the global stage,” he added. — November 23, 2024