KUALA LUMPUR – The upcoming Rawang Open tournament will showcase emerging national talent, as the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) sends its players for the first time in the tournament’s history.
Organised by Rawang Badminton Club, which was once a powerhouse in the now-disbanded Malaysia Purple League Junior (MPLJ), the tournament will feature 20 junior shuttlers from BAM.
In total, 360 players from various states across the country, except Sabah, will compete in the tournament.
Speaking to Scoop, the founder and manager of Rawang Badminton Club, Jeyaseelan Anthony, expressed his appreciation for the support from BAM and his hopes to organise a successful tournament to ensure that the young players he is nurturing at the club catch BAM’s attention.
“It’s an honour for us as a club to have BAM’s support. Previously, they only sanctioned our events, but now they have directly registered their players to be part of our tournament.
“This shows the value our tournament has offered junior players over the years and how much it has contributed to the development of badminton in our country,” said Jeyaseelan when contacted.
With a strong coaching setup comprising of passionate school teachers, Rawang Badminton Club has actively produced young players like Letshanaa Karupathevan, Brian Yap Tai Kuan, Siti Nurshuhaini Azman, Kasturi Radhakrishnan, and Venosha Radhakrishnan.
“This year’s tournament will be exciting, with more participants from across the country, as well as competitors from the Maldives and Indonesia. Sabah is the only state that hasn’t sent its shuttlers this year, but I hope they will be able to participate next year.
“We’ve been working hard to provide the best for the players despite challenges, especially after no longer competing in the MPLJ. I’m happy that Rawang BC continues to receive support and recognition from the badminton fraternity,” Jeyaseelan added.
MPLJ, which was once a thriving platform for young talents to showcase their skills and gain valuable experience, has been absent from the badminton scene for the past year.
The tournament started in 2015 and had a successful run until its sudden cancellation this year. It featured 20 grassroots clubs over those seven years.
The 14th edition of the Rawang Open is scheduled to take place from September 14 to 16 this year at the All Sports Rawang Badminton Hall.
Among the categories in the championship are events for under-10 boys and girls singles, under-12 boys and girls singles, under-15 boys and girls singles, and under-18 men’s and women’s singles.
The doubles and mixed doubles categories will also be contested for the under-12, under-15, and under-18 events.
Aside from BAM, the tournament is also sanctioned by the Youth and Sports Ministry and sponsored by Protech Sports, Milo Malaysia, and Prestar Resources Berhad. – September 9, 2024