The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) has denied a local Chinese daily report that internal bickering resulted in Malaysia missing the deadline for submission of its team list for the Badminton Asia Youth Championships 2013, scheduled for next month.

Oriental Daily today reported that a check on the Badminton Asia Confederation's official website, revealed no Malaysian team registered for the Badminton Asia Youth U17 and U15 Championships 2013, to be held from Oct 8 to 13, at Kudus, Indonesia.

It reported that Malaysia took part last year, scoring a gold medal in the U15 category.

"I know nothing about this, and no comments from me," said national doubles chief coach Tan Kim Her when contacted by the daily.

It has been reported that, caught between a reformist group and those in power, the BAM was torn apart.

With a mission to reform the national badminton team, BAM president Tengku Mahaleel Tengku Ariff had early this month appointed Tan Aik Mong to lead Talent Management Group (TMG).

However, the short-lived reform only lasted 18 days, when Aik Mong resigned, saying he wasn't wanted by the BAM.

National singles coach Rashid Sidek, in the meantime, tendered his resignation on Sept 19, claiming he could not work with Aik Mong.

However, in an emailed response, BAM general manager Kenny Goh Chee Keong denied the report, stating that there was no omission to submit entries, but rather, the decision not to participate in the championships was due to upcoming Penilaian Menengah Rendah (PMR) or Lower Secondary Evaluation Examination.

“We wish to categorically state that the decision not to participate in the championships was made by the then TMG director (Aik Mong), in view of the fact that the dates of the championships clashes with the PMR examinations scheduled from Oct 2 to 9, 2013.”

Goh further clarified that Aik Mong only withdrew his services from BAM on Sept 23.