KUALA LUMPUR – Will badminton legend Datuk Lee Chong Wei replace current Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) president Tan Sri Mohamad Norza Zakaria when the latter steps down at the end of this year?
Speaking to Scoop, a source in the badminton fraternity said that Chong Wei would be the right fit to take over as president of BAM because he has a good relationship with sponsors and knows the sport so well.
“Nobody at the moment has the capability of taking over from Norza except for Chong Wei. The former player has the experience, knowledge, and connections to lead BAM effectively.
“Chong Wei as president will also boost the confidence of the young players who look up to and idolise him. Even the badminton supporters in Malaysia will be happy to see the former world number one take charge.
“The former world number one can change the perception of BAM, which has taken a slight dip, especially with badminton fans blaming the national body for everything and anything,” said the source.
The source also said Norza still has time to pick his successor, but compared to others in the industry, Chong Wei is the best candidate.
“Norza has built the foundation to make BAM a successful association in the coming years. Many hoped that he would see it through but since he has decided to step down, Chong Wei is the best choice.”
However, in June, Chong Wei said that he was not ready to take on a full-time job with BAM, considering his involvement in the Road to Gold (RTG) programme, and being a member of the National Sports Council (MSN).
Last month, Norza unexpectedly announced that he would be stepping down by year end because he wants to focus on his international duties, citing that he is now the honorary president of Badminton Asia and chairman of the Sports for All Committee with the Olympic Council Asia (OCA).
Norza took the helm of BAM in 2017 and subsequently accomplished many milestones. He was behind several key decisions pertaining to the governance of badminton, in accordance with the vision and aspirations of the national body.
Among Norza’s accomplishments was the establishment of Akademi Badminton Malaysia (ABM) as the country’s badminton centre of excellence.
He also successfully brought Petronas onboard with a RM45 million sponsorship deal that runs for three years, starting from 2022. – August 21, 2023