KUALA LUMPUR – Tan Sri Mohamad Norza Zakaria was honoured with the Sports Leadership Award at the 2024 National Sports Awards today, in recognition of his contributions to Malaysian badminton, particularly during his two-term tenure as Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) president.
Norza, who stepped down from the post after the Paris Olympics last year, said the award was a meaningful validation of his efforts to professionalise and modernise the BAM setup.
“This award is very meaningful to me as my hard work and all the efforts of bringing BAM to where it is now are getting recognition from the government,” he told Scoop when contacted.
“I know I didn’t manage to deliver the Olympic gold or the Thomas Cup, but I believe I have left strong legacies in governance, sponsorship, and a high-performance culture. We now consistently produce world-class players, rather than relying on just one figure like Datuk Lee Chong Wei in the past.
“It’s more institutional-centric rather than individual-centric. BAM is run professionally, and the Akademi Badminton Malaysia (ABM) is now recognised globally.”
Meanwhile, Norza, who is also the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) president, yesterday presented his inaugural report as the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) vice president for Southeast Asia at the 45th OCA General Assembly in Kuwait.
He described his appointment to the regional role as a historic milestone for Malaysia, noting that it was the country’s first such representation since Tan Sri Hamzah Abu Samah nearly 40 years ago.
“Malaysia is back on the regional stage and now has a voice. The fact that I was elected unopposed by all 11 Southeast Asian countries speaks volumes,” said Norza.
He added that Malaysia stood to gain from several OCA initiatives, including regional forums and workshops for coaches, athletes, and administrators.
“Most importantly, the vice presidents from the other four regions are also very influential in their respective areas, so this allows Malaysia to be part of those key conversations.”
Also receiving the Sports Leadership Award was Malaysian tenpin bowling stalwart Sunny Si Poh Heng, who currently serves as deputy president of the Malaysian Tenpin Bowling Congress (MTBC).
A long-standing president of the Amateur Bowling Association of Sarawak (ABAS), Sunny was recognised for his enduring contribution to Sarawak bowling since the late 1980s, as well as his role in the broader development of the state’s sports administration.
The awards ceremony, held in Subang Jaya, was graced by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim, Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh, and her deputy Adam Adli Abd Halim. – May 13, 2025