BAM must start exposing juniors
Tunku Imran Tuanku Ja'afar
OLYMPIC Council of Malaysia (OCM) president Tunku Imran Tuanku Ja'afar is 100 per cent behind the Badminton Association of Malaysia's (BAM) stand of putting the emphasis on the Olympics instead of the Thomas Cup.
Tunku Imran said it would be difficult for the players to peak twice if they were to seriously challenge for both events and believes that BAM has got its priorities right in putting its focus and resources into winning a gold medal at the most prestigious sporting event in the world.
"Actually, I have always told them (BAM) to put the focus on the Olympics rather than the Thomas Cup," said Tunku Imran.
"If you ask people who won a gold medal at the Olympics or who won the Thomas Cup in a particular year, it is most likely they will remember the Olympics as it is the pinnacle of sports.
"When we won the Thomas Cup in 1992, we had the best singles and doubles players in the world, however, they did not realise how important the Olympics was as it was the first time it was part of the Olympics.
"It was considered just like another Sea Games or Asian Games and we missed a great opportunity to win two gold medals.
"It is important that we do look at the Olympics as the pinnacle of all sports. I believe they (BAM) have got their priorities right in looking at (winning) a medal, hopefully gold, at the Olympics this year."
Tunku Imran, who is also the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) president, said that with the current lack of depth in the national team, it would be difficult for the squad to make an impact on the Thomas Cup this year and urged BAM to focus on building a team for the 2014 edition.
"I am not denigrating the Thomas Cup. It is a great team event and we have a great tradition in the tournament.
"To win the tournament would be very difficult for us this year because we do not have enough depth in the squad.
"They (BAM) should build up a squad for the long term and blood some young players for the next edition of the Thomas Cup.
"We have some great junior players, including a world junior boy's singles champion and also world junior doubles champions who I saw compete at the Commonwealth Youth Games last year. They were not only great but also had excellent temperament.
"It is these players we should rely on for the Thomas Cup in the future, but for this year our senior players should focus on the Olympics," said Tunku Imran.
Malaysia, who have been placed in a difficult group with South Korea and Hong Kong, will begin their Thomas Cup qualifying campaign on Monday.
Tunku Imran said it would be difficult for the players to peak twice if they were to seriously challenge for both events and believes that BAM has got its priorities right in putting its focus and resources into winning a gold medal at the most prestigious sporting event in the world.
"Actually, I have always told them (BAM) to put the focus on the Olympics rather than the Thomas Cup," said Tunku Imran.
"If you ask people who won a gold medal at the Olympics or who won the Thomas Cup in a particular year, it is most likely they will remember the Olympics as it is the pinnacle of sports.
"When we won the Thomas Cup in 1992, we had the best singles and doubles players in the world, however, they did not realise how important the Olympics was as it was the first time it was part of the Olympics.
"It was considered just like another Sea Games or Asian Games and we missed a great opportunity to win two gold medals.
"It is important that we do look at the Olympics as the pinnacle of all sports. I believe they (BAM) have got their priorities right in looking at (winning) a medal, hopefully gold, at the Olympics this year."
Tunku Imran, who is also the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) president, said that with the current lack of depth in the national team, it would be difficult for the squad to make an impact on the Thomas Cup this year and urged BAM to focus on building a team for the 2014 edition.
"I am not denigrating the Thomas Cup. It is a great team event and we have a great tradition in the tournament.
"To win the tournament would be very difficult for us this year because we do not have enough depth in the squad.
"They (BAM) should build up a squad for the long term and blood some young players for the next edition of the Thomas Cup.
"We have some great junior players, including a world junior boy's singles champion and also world junior doubles champions who I saw compete at the Commonwealth Youth Games last year. They were not only great but also had excellent temperament.
"It is these players we should rely on for the Thomas Cup in the future, but for this year our senior players should focus on the Olympics," said Tunku Imran.
Malaysia, who have been placed in a difficult group with South Korea and Hong Kong, will begin their Thomas Cup qualifying campaign on Monday.
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