PENANG Badminton Association president Datuk Kah Kau Kiak, who has been appointed as the Malaysian badminton team manager for the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, is keenly aware that the nation’s attention will be squarely on his team as they participate in this prestigious event.
The Games are scheduled to start on Sept 23 and end on Oct 8.
Kah, who is the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) vice-president and chairman of the technical committee, expressed his gratitude for the opportunity given to him to lead the team.
“Malaysia places great importance on this event. Our team comprises 18 elite players, including notable shuttlers like Lee Zii Jia, Ng Tze Yong, Josephine Wu, and Leong Jun Hao,
“I believe our men’s team players are well-equipped to compete against singles and doubles players from other countries such as India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, and Thailand.
“I hope the players will persevere and strive for glory for the country in the upcoming event, which was postponed from the previous year due to the Covid-19 pandemic,” he told Buletin Mutiara.
On the future plans for the state Badminton Association, Kah said a northern region badminton academy would be built in the state.
“The BAM has designated that such an academy to be built in the north Seberang Perai district in Penang,” he added.
Aside from that, Kah pointed out the PBA has been actively hosting competitions to promote the sports in the state.
“We welcome schools in the state to contact us for further collaboration to inspire the younger ones to excel in badminton,” he said, adding the association is set to celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2025.
Story by Edmund Lee