The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) today announces Deputy Prime Minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail as its new patron.

BAM president Mohamad Norza Zakaria said the governing body welcomes Wan Azizah as the new patron to replace the previous patron Rosmah Mansor.

"Thank you to Wan Azizah for consenting to become BAM patron and we in BAM are happy with her acceptance.

"We are confident badminton will shine with her as the new patron as the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in Japan approaches,” he said after chairing a Special BAM Council Meeting at Bukit Kiara in Kuala Lumpur today.

Mohd Norza said he believes as an individual who plays badminton, Wan Azizah has always kept abreast with the development of badminton in the country.

He hoped the perseverance and presence of the first woman deputy prime minister in the country would be a model to national badminton players, coaches as well as BAM officers.

In this regard, BAM also thanked the efforts and sacrifices of the former patron. 

- Bernama