SHAH ALAM, 27 Dec: The state government intends to set up a Selangor badminton academy to train new talents who will go on to be stars at the international level.
The Executive Councillor in Charge of Youth and Sports, Infrastructure and Public Utilities, Dr Ahmad Yunus Hairi, said that participants who join the academy will be coached by professionals and assessed on merits.
He said that this is in effort to regain Selangor’s glory by producing badminton champions who are at par with the children of Datuk Sidek Abdullah Kamar.
“Probably, at the state level we will have a small academy with a professional coach because we want champions like the Sidek children again.
“The state wants to produce stars that will be selected on their merits for training because I think that it is time to develop this sport in Selangor,” he said after inaugurating the Under 16, 14 and 12 Badminton Championship Closing Ceremony, here at the Youth Complex.
Ahmad Yunus said that the programme, which was held for the first time, was organised by the state government, together with the Selangor State Sports Council (MSNS), and is considered to be an incentive for the young people to be active in sports.
He said that participation from about 300 youths from the state witnessed two categories being contested, doubles and singles.
He said that the tournament is also in preparation for the state government to place athletes and new talent in the Malaysia Games (SUKMA), starting next year.
“We try to make it an annual programme, with hope that those participating in it will manage to achieve success at the international level. So far, our focus is on badminton and previously, it was on football. We will then go on to other sports,” he said.
