BAM suspends Zii Jia, Jin Wei from competing for two years

 

The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) has suspended national badminton players Lee Zii Jia and Goh Jin Wei for a period of two years.

This follows Lee’s (above) decision to tender his resignation from BAM on Jan 11.

“BAM has reached the decision to not register Lee Zii Jia for any international tournaments for the period of two years, effective from Jan 18, 2022,” said BAM deputy president Jaharbedeen Mohd Yunoos at a press conference today.

He said since the submission of Lee’s resignation letter, numerous efforts - including informal talks and lucrative offers of monetary benefits - were made with the national player to reconsider his decision, in light of his 11-year-long history with BAM.

However, these efforts did not prove fruitful.

“(Lee) said he cannot stand the pressure of being in the national squad. Secondly, he said that the lifestyle in the Akademi Badminton Malaysia (ABM) is a regimented lifestyle and he found it very difficult.

“During the discussions with the committee, Lee submitted fresh terms to continue his career with BAM.

“Following a thorough deliberation, BAM reached the decision to reject those terms,” he said.

These terms - outlined by Lee during these discussions and raised by Jaharbedeen today - are as follows:

• Lee wished to have his own team of coaches and support service

• Lee wished to plan his own tournaments

• Lee wanted to have his own sponsors

According to Jaharbedeen, the association found these requirements “impossible to be fulfilled” and “unrealistic”.

“We are mindful of the fact that Lee being a national player who recently won the All England championship, it is quite difficult (and) disappointing for BAM to lose him,” he said.

Lee, who is the top national shuttler, is currently ranked seventh in the world by the Badminton World Federation.

The 23-year-old Kedahan won the All England Open men’s singles in March 2021 after a nail-biting showdown with Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen.

Former women's singles shuttler Goh Jin Wei

In the same press conference, BAM announced its decision to similarly ban former women's singles shuttler Goh for a period of two years effective from Oct 31, 2021.

Goh had intended to resign from the association last year, due to her health.

She later considered returning to BAM as a mixed doubles shuttler, before announcing her decision to turn independent.

However, the badminton association claimed that the window of opportunity to return to the national team remained open for both players after their two-year suspension.

Jaharbedeen cited the example of national women's doubles player Toh Ee Wei who faced the same sanction as Lee and Goh for resigning from the association.

Toh later rejoined the national team after her two-year ban - whom BAM "embraced with open arms" upon her return. - Mkini