KUALA LUMPUR – Amid growing concerns over the struggles of Malaysia’s independent shuttlers, former world number one Datuk Lee Chong Wei has weighed in, arguing that these challenges stem from a deeper issue—an underdeveloped grassroots system.
While many young players face difficulties securing sponsorship after leaving the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM), Chong Wei told Scoop that the real problem lies in the lack of structured development at the state and club levels.
“My take on this whole issue is that we cannot rely on BAM alone for everything to function,” he said.
“Badminton is the number one sport in the country, but BAM, as the governing body, has its limitations. The real question is: are our state associations and clubs doing enough?
“Including Putrajaya, we have 15 state associations, yet only about eight or nine are actively feeding players into the national team. Why? Are the state bodies working closely with schools or securing private sponsors to send their players to more tournaments?”
Chong Wei pointed out that the RM250,000 in annual funding each state receives from BAM is barely enough to cover basic costs such as shuttlecocks, hall rental, and maintenance.
“At the same time, BAM has to manage both senior and junior national players, on top of other operations. The funding they receive is just enough to cover these needs.”
Instead of relying solely on BAM, the three-time Olympic silver medallist believes Malaysia needs a stronger club-based or provincial system, similar to those in other top badminton nations.
“China has strong grassroots programmes in its provinces; Japan and Taiwan have solid backing from private companies; Indonesia, Thailand, and India have well-established state and club-based systems. We are behind in this aspect.”
Chong Wei, who has raised this issue with Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh, acknowledges that overhauling the system will take time. He told Scoop that this had been on his mind for a long time, particularly since many had called for him to run for the BAM presidency this year.
“Most people today are impatient, but change like this doesn’t happen overnight.”
His comments tie back to the ongoing challenges faced by young independent players trying to stay in the game. Former Thomas Cup shuttler Chong Wei Feng recently highlighted the difficulties of competing internationally without proper rankings or sponsorship.
He has been working to support young players such as former National Under-18 champion Sng Wei Ming and Chee Hong Wei, both of whom have struggled to enter tournaments due to a lack of financial backing since leaving BAM.
Former national player and high-performance director Datuk James Selvaraj also weighed in, advising these young shuttlers to dominate local tournaments first to gain visibility. He also urged them to approach smaller sports brands for potential sponsorship.
However, Chong Wei argues that unless the grassroots system is reformed, Malaysia will continue to see young talents drop out due to a lack of opportunities and funding.
“If we had a strong ecosystem, we wouldn’t have to worry about independent players struggling to find sponsorship. Right now, this is a major problem that needs to be sorted.”
“That is why you see players who drop out of BAM have no other option but to turn into private coaches or give up the sport entirely,” he added.
While Malaysia’s independent badminton scene may appear to be growing, many lesser-known young players continue to struggle.
Chong Wei’s call for a grassroots overhaul may be the key to ensuring a steady pipeline of talent—one that does not rely entirely on the national body. — March 12, 2025