Stay with BAM, Hannah urges Pearly-Thinaah amid speculation

KUALA LUMPUR – Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh has called on national women’s doubles pair Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah to remain with the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM), amid speculation that the pair may leave to pursue independent careers.

Hannah stressed the benefits of staying within the BAM setup, highlighting the recent resurgence of men’s doubles aces Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik as an example of what can be achieved with strong institutional backing.

Former world champions Aaron and Wooi Yik on Sunday clinched the Super 750 Singapore Open crown, ending Malaysia’s 17-year title drought in the competition. The title was their third from four straight finals since the Asian Championships in April.

“Look at Aaron and Soh — they’ve won three titles from four straight finals since April. There has been a sharp improvement. That’s the benefit of consistent support through BAM and the Road to Gold (RTG) programme,” Hannah told reporters.

She acknowledged that Pearly and Thinaah have yet to make a final decision and have asked for time until after the ongoing Indonesia Open. BAM has granted them the space to focus on their current campaign.

For context, Scoop first reported in April that the former French Open champions were considering turning independent as they were seeking better remuneration packages, on par with BAM’s high earners – reportedly RM2 million a year.

BAM later confirmed that Pearly and Thinaah have yet to sign new contracts, after the previous one expired in December last year.

“There’s no need to rush. They’re still with BAM and I just want them to focus on their tournament. But I hope they can see the support system available and what’s possible when you’re part of an institution,” she said.

While affirming her neutrality as a minister and not taking sides in association matters, Hannah underlined the government’s role in reinforcing structures that benefit athletes long-term.

“As a ministry, we have to be neutral and cannot be taking sides. But nothing compares to what an institution like BAM can provide — structured training, sparring partners, recovery services, strength and conditioning experts. You’re part of a team,” she said.

Former world No.1 men’s doubles player, Chan Chong Ming, who was present at the same event, backed the minister’s call.

He said he hoped Pearly and Thinaah would stay with BAM, noting that players who go independent often struggle to manage logistics, funding, and access to professional support.

“When you’re with the association, you don’t need to worry about travel, accommodation or injury management. There’s a proper support team. That’s a big advantage,” said Chong Ming, who for a brief period was BAM’s women’s doubles coach.

Having worked with both BAM players and independents in recent years, Chong Ming added that the strength and conditioning and psychological support available through government and BAM structures cannot be easily replicated.

Previously, a source had told Scoop that Pearly and Thinaah are ready to sign new contracts with the national body. However, the cat and mouse race seems to continue after the world No. 4 pair won the Thailand Open crown last month.

It remains to be seen if negotiations are still ongoing, as BAM have made it clear that it will not budge from the initial offer made to the pair in January. – June 3, 2025