Malaysia fails in bid to host badminton events at Commonwealth games

 

Malaysia won two badminton gold medals in the women’s doubles (through Pearly Tan-M Thinaah) and the mixed team events at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. (Bernama pic)

KUALA LUMPUR: 

The Commonwealth Games Federation has rejected Malaysia’s request to host the badminton events at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, says the Olympic Council of Malaysia.

Badminton, a medal stronghold for Malaysia, is among the sports dropped from the Glasgow games to reduce the cost of hosting the tournament.

OCM secretary-general Nazifuddin Najib said Malaysia had proposed to host the badminton events concurrently with the other 10 sports held by the Glasgow organisers.

“But the request was rejected, and we need to accept the 10 sports determined by the host,” he told reporters after the OCM general assembly here today. He said Malaysia is expected to field a smaller contingent to compete in Glasgow.

The 10 sports to be held in Glasgow are athletics and para athletics, swimming and para swimming, artistic gymnastics, track cycling and para track cycling, netball, weightlifting and powerlifting, boxing, judo, bowling and para bowling, 3×3 basketball, and wheelchair 3×3 basketball.

About 3,000 athletes from 74 Commonwealth countries and territories are expected for the Glasgow games, to be held from July 23 to August 2. The city took up hosting duties after Malaysia declined to replace the Australian state of Victoria, which withdrew in July last year due to rising costs. - FMT