Tengku Zafrul Aziz, President of the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM), has urged for a prompt resolution to the ongoing contract dispute involving national shuttlers Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah. He expressed his desire to see the duo continue their journey within the national team framework.
According to Bernama, he emphasized the importance of preserving stability and concentration within the national squad, particularly for athletes gearing up for major competitions.
“Situations like this are far from ideal when the goal is to maintain complete focus during training,” he said.
Speaking to reporters after visiting the national players during a training session at the Akademi Badminton Malaysia yesterday, he said, “We must ensure that all our players remain with BAM. I’ve instructed the management to do their best to retain them.”
Earlier reports revealed that the women’s doubles pair had not yet renewed their contracts with BAM, which expired in December last year. Despite the ongoing uncertainty about their future with BAM, Pearly and Thinaah have maintained strong performances on the court. They clinched the Thailand Open title last month and followed it up with a runner-up finish at the recent Indonesia Open.
Tengku Zafrul also mentioned that BAM is continuing its efforts to improve the framework and guidelines for players who are transitioning out of the national team setup.
He stated, “I believe it’s important to approach this matter objectively, as we don’t want to make any hasty decisions. At the same time, our focus remains on achieving the best possible outcome.”
As discussions continue behind the scenes, Tengku Zafrul’s remarks highlight BAM’s commitment to supporting its players while ensuring the long-term stability of the national team. With Pearly and Thinaah still delivering impressive results on the international stage, there is hope that a resolution will be reached soon—one that benefits both the athletes and Malaysian badminton as a whole.
Source: Malay Mail
