KUALA LUMPUR – Former national badminton ace Datuk Lee Chong Wei is disappointed and, at the same time, furious with Lee Zii Jia and his coach Wong Tat Meng for accusing the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) of bullying professional players.
Yesterday, Tat Meng expressed his frustration on social media about a BAM rule affecting independent players’ attire during training at Akademi Badminton Malaysia (ABM).
Zii Jia also commented, “Don’t say that I am big-headed and refuse to train in ABM after this,” in the post that his coach posted on Instagram.
Speaking to Scoop, Chong Wei believes that Tat Meng and Zii Jia have gotten it wrong in this matter, adding that they are just trying to make a big fuss over a small issue, just to blame the national body for everything and anything.
Chong Wei said that BAM had communicated to all independent players to wear T-shirts and shorts without personal sponsor branding during training, as they are allowed to use rackets, bags, and shoes from their sponsors.
He said that this suggests that the focus is on maintaining sponsor commitments while allowing flexibility with certain equipment.
“I think BAM’s requests from independent players are reasonable due to their obligations to sponsors. Why is Zii Jia’s camp making this into an issue when other independent players like Ong Yew Sin, Teo Ee Yi, and their coach Rosman Razak don’t seem to have a problem?
“Zii Jia seems to be causing unnecessary issues and complaining excessively. I feel that he needs to mature and handle matters more responsibly,” Chong Wei expressed his frustration when contacted.
This sentiment suggests a level of concern about his behaviour.
Chong Wei suggests that if Zii Jia is unhappy with the rule and feels uncomfortable, he could choose not to participate in training at ABM. This implies that there might be a simple solution for Zii Jia if he finds the rule too restrictive or inconvenient.
Chong Wei said that the purpose of having independent players and national players train together is to enhance the overall level of gameplay.
He added that this collaboration isn’t solely for the World Championships but is intended to continue until the Paris 2024 Olympics next year. The focus is on collective improvement for both short-term and long-term goals.
Chong Wei reveals that he, as part of the Road to Gold programme, played a role in suggesting this training arrangement to BAM president Tan Sri Mohamad Norza Zakaria.
He believed that such collaboration would contribute to the mission of winning the first Olympic gold medal for Malaysia.
“I proposed the idea to Tan Sri and received positive feedback. Tan Sri was enthusiastic about the concept, recognising its potential benefits for the sport.
“As a result, an agreement was reached that independent players could utilise ABM facilities for two days a week as part of the effort to enhance the game,” he said.
Chong Wei said that Zii Jia should recognise and value the assistance he is receiving from various parties, including BAM.
He added that while the national body is not obligated to provide this help, it is doing so in the interest of the nation. This emphasises the idea that Zii Jia is receiving support out of a larger sense of national benefit.
“My only advice for Zii Jia is that he should focus on showing appreciation rather than constantly complaining.
“This perspective encourages Zii Jia to adopt a more positive and grateful attitude towards the support and opportunities he’s receiving,” Chong Wei said. – August 17, 2023