Goh Jin Wei says BAM's two-year ban will affect her livelihood

 

Former women’s singles shuttler Goh Jin Wei said the two-year ban from international tournaments imposed on her by the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) will affect her livelihood.

This is because playing badminton is her job and it is her only skill set, she said.

“(BAM) refused to help me register in any international tournaments for two years and effectively, you are banning me (because) if you refuse to register me, I cannot play internationally.

“It is affecting my livelihood. Badminton is the only skill set I know and it is my job.

“How am I going to survive then?” Goh (above) said in a pre-recorded Youtube video uploaded onto her personal channel yesterday.

BAM had announced on Friday to suspend Goh and fellow national shuttler Lee Zii Jia for two years, following Lee’s decision to tender his resignation from BAM on Jan 11 so that he can be an independent player.

Goh had also 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.

In Goh’s video last night, she said BAM had already accepted her resignation in September last year and there had not been any objections until now.

She added that she had been able to register for the India Open which was held last month, but due to her respect for BAM, she had agreed for them to pull out her name from the tournament before she could discuss with BAM’s management about her future plans.

Right to play

“I have given full respect to the national body, so why did I manage to register (in the tournament) beforehand?

“It means that actually I have the right to play and I am not breaching any of the policies,” Goh said.

She also pointed out that she is unable to give her full commitment or stand the rigorous training regime due to her health condition.

The relevant parties, including her former teammates, coaches and BAM management, is aware that she wanted to train and play at her own pace, so that she can monitor her health condition at the same time.

“No one knows how much of the side effects from the medication I am bearing daily except myself and my family, but still I will strive my very best to pursue my dream.

Bring glory

“I am sure that I still can bring glory to Malaysia again, so I really don’t know what I have done wrong that’s actually causing me now to be banned from international tournaments for two years,” Goh said.

BAM is the sport’s governing body, affiliated with the world governing body Badminton World Federation (BWF) that is recognised by the International Olympic Committee (OIC).

All major badminton tournaments –Olympics, World Championships, Thomas Cup, Uber Cup, Sudirman Cup, Super Series and Grand Prix – are organised by the BWF.

Shuttlers have to be registered through their national associations in order to compete in any BWF-sanctioned tournaments. - Mkini