WHEREVER he appears, Chao Khai Yuen, better known as Joe or Ahjo Badminton, instantly becomes the centre of attention at any badminton arena.
Sporting a headgear in the national colours, he stood out with shuttlecocks affixed to his black shirt and trousers — complete with the word Malaysia spelt out in shuttlecock feathers across his back.
Aside from making a striking appearance at the Penang Badminton Association’s (PBA) 100th Anniversary Gala Dinner at the Setia SPICE Convention Centre on Saturday (Nov 22), Ahjo drew the attention of photographers and fans when he presented a framed caricature of Datuk Seri Lee Chong Wei, his wife Datin Seri Wong Mew Choo, and their three children to the badminton legend himself.
Chong Wei is Malaysia’s most decorated shuttler, having won three Olympic silver medals (Beijing 2008, London 2012 and Rio de Janeiro 2016) and three World Championships silver medals (London 2011, Guangzhou 2013 and Jakarta 2015).
As the ambassador of the PBA centennial celebration, Chong Wei was at the time accompanying Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) president and Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) vice-president Tan Sri Dr Mohamad Norza Zakaria, and PBA president Datuk Kah Kau Kiak as they visited the Hall of Fame Exhibition, which showcased trophies and memorabilia from legendary Penang and Malaysian shuttlers.
“I was invited by Datuk Kah to witness the 100th anniversary celebration, and I’m glad I came all the way from Cheras, Kuala Lumpur. I had the chance to meet many top players, including my idol, Datuk Seri Lee Chong Wei.
“The caricature was done by someone else, but it took my own effort to have it completed so that I could present it to him as a token of appreciation,” Ahjo said.
Such is his fame that the 41-year-old digital content creator has been interviewed by numerous media outlets, including Astro Arena, TV3, Hot FM, Era FM, The Star and Sin Chew Daily, as well as being featured in the World Badminton Federation (WBF) magazine.
Over the past two years, Ahjo has been actively attending major international badminton tournaments to cheer on Malaysia’s players. These include the Malaysia Open, Badminton Asia Championships, Thailand Open, Malaysian Masters, Paris Olympics, Petronas International Challenge, KL Masters 100, China Masters, Indonesia Open, All England and the BWF World Tour Finals.
When asked about the motivation behind his dedication, he told Buletin Mutiara:
“Every tournament I go to, I try to lift the spirits of the Malaysian players. I want them to feel the unwavering support of Malaysian fans.”
Ahjo’s vision is to build a stronger Malaysian badminton support system, one that strengthens national pride and unity through the sport, ensures Malaysian athletes never feel alone no matter where they compete, and establishes a structured, passionate fan movement that can travel globally.
“I’m on a mission and I can’t do it alone. I’m looking for brands, media and sponsors who believe in more than just winning … who believe in heart, passion and purpose.
“Let’s raise our voices louder. Let’s show the world the spirit of Malaysia. Together, we don’t just cheer — we make history,” he wrote on Instagram.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Siew Chia En