KUALA LUMPUR — National shuttlers have been feeling the heat to perform lately, fearing that every misstep on the court could cost them their place in the squad.
This growing anxiety among the players was a key concern raised by coaches when they met with Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) acting president Datuk V. Subramaniam, who is now moving swiftly to address the issue by appointing a mental health expert to support the players.
Following Malaysia’s shock early exit from the Badminton Asia Mixed Team Championships (BAMTC) a fortnight ago, Subramaniam is taking decisive action.
Malaysia failed to progress beyond the group stage in Qingdao, China, after suffering 3-2 defeats to both Hong Kong and eventual champions Indonesia.
The disappointing results sparked criticism, with Subramaniam demanding answers from the coaching staff on what went wrong.
On Wednesday, he met with the coaches and is now working on measures to improve the team’s performance.
Subramaniam, who is also the Selangor BA president, told Scoop that he is frustrated by how independent players—who left the national setup—are outperforming BAM players, despite the latter receiving high salaries, allowances, top-notch facilities, coaching, support services, and accommodation.
“I met with all the coaches on Wednesday, and I demanded answers, just as I had mentioned earlier,” he said.
“According to the coaches, BAM players are feeling immense pressure to perform, fearing that poor results could see them axed from the squad.
“So I asked the coaches, what are they doing about it? What do they need?
“I accept their reasoning, and I want to give the players the benefit of the doubt. If this is their concern, I will help them find a solution.”
One key step he has taken is getting in touch with his fellow National Sports Institute (NSI) board member, Associate Professor Dr. Tengku Fadhilah Tengku Kamalden, who has recommended appointing a mental health expert to support the players.
“We are in the works, as right now BAM does not have a full-time expert for this,” Subramaniam confirmed.
He also acknowledged the contributions of renowned sports psychologist Frederick Tan, who was engaged to assist Malaysia’s Road to Gold (RTG) shuttlers ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics.
“Yes, he is also someone we are looking at. Right now, he is in New Zealand from what I understand,” Subramaniam said.
“We engaged him for the Olympics and the results were quite evident. So together with the coaches, I am looking into this matter.”
Malaysia’s underwhelming performance in Qingdao also raised concerns about the players’ mindset and attitude.
“I told the coaches, the BAMTC results were not good enough, and our players cannot be losing terribly without showing any remorse or regret,” he said.
With concrete steps now being taken, Subramaniam is determined to ensure BAM players receive the necessary support to improve their performance on the international stage.
All the institution expects in return are results. — February 23, 2025