'Sorted': Zii Jia, Jin Wei can compete in international events again - BAM
The Badminton Associations of Malaysia (BAM) has decided to allow national shuttlers Lee Zii Jia and Goh Jin Wei to compete in all international events.
In a statement today, the association said that it had considered the athletes' appeals against their suspension and came to a decision to release Lee and Goh from their contracts with BAM.
"Both players will be...
The Badminton Associations of Malaysia (BAM) has decided to allow national shuttlers Lee Zii Jia and Goh Jin Wei to compete in all international events.
In a statement today, the association said that it had considered the athletes' appeals against their suspension and came to a decision to release Lee and Goh from their contracts with BAM.
"Both players will be eligible to register for international tournaments with immediate effect.
"The BAM would like to thank Zii Jia and Jin Wei for their dedication and commitment to the country and wishes them all the best in their future endeavours," BAM said in the statement.
Last week, BAM announced that it was suspending Lee and Goh for a period of two years. The decision followed Lee’s decision to tender his resignation from BAM on Jan 11.
BAM said its president Norza Zakari had conveyed the decision to release Lee and Goh to Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob and BAM patron Muhaini Zainal Abidin during a meeting today.
Also present in the meeting in Ismail Sabri's office were Lee and the top BAM leadership.
PM: 'All sorted'
Earlier today, Ismail Sabri had posted on Facebook saying that the matter between Zii Jia and BAM has been “all sorted”.
“It was a beneficial discussion. Alhamdulillah, it is all sorted.
“May the country’s badminton continue to excel on the world stage, and may the Jalur Gemilang fly high again abroad,” Ismail said in a Facebook posting today.
He did not elaborate on the details of the meeting nor how the issue was sorted.
Lee had submitted his resignation to BAM on Jan 11 after the association could not agree to his request to choose his own coaches, plan tournament schedules on his own and decide on sponsorship.
In response, BAM had decided to impose a two-year ban from international tournaments on Lee.
All major badminton tournaments are organised by the Badminton World Federation (BWF). Only players assigned by their respective national badminton bodies can participate in such tournaments.
Public outcry ensued over Lee’s treatment, although there was also a significant number who backed BAM’s decision, arguing that to concede would result in opening the floodgates for other players - many of whom BAM trained since young - to do the same and causing BAM to lose its sponsorship income.
Two days ago, Lee said in an Instagram post that Norza had given his “blessing” for the former to turn professional.
