NST Online: Sports

Badminton: Maxis boost for Olympics campaign

Posted: 06 Jul 2011 05:27 PM PDT

2011/07/07
By Fadhli Ishak
fadhli@nstp.com.my

(From left) Lee Chong Wei, Maxis senior vice president Fitri Abdullah, Koo Kien Keat, Maxis Bhd chairman Tan Sri Arshad Raja Tun Uda, Tan Boon Heong, Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek, Mohd Azlan Iskandar, NSC director general Datuk Zolkples Embong, Azizul Hasni Awang and Maxis' chief operating officer Jean-Pascal Van Overbeke at the Maxis Sports Ambassadors Programme at Sime Darby Convention Centre yesterday. — Picture by Fariz Iswadi Ismail

SIX of Malaysia's top athletes have an added reason to deliver the nation's first Olympic gold in London next year -- thanks to telecommunications giant Maxis Berhad.

The company appointed shuttlers Lee Chong Wei, Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong, cyclist Azizul Hasni Awang, and divers Pandalela Rinong and Leong Mun Yee were all appointed as Maxis Sports Ambassadors yesterday together with squash star Azlan Iskandar.

Maxis has allocated RM2 million for the 18-month deal and besides the athletes receiving a monthly stipend, they will get an additional performance bonus for maintaining and improving their ranking.

An even more enticing bonus awaits the athletes -- with the exception of Azlan -- who are all in the 2012 Olympic programme is a special performance bonus for winning medals in London.

Maxis Berhad chairman Raja Tan Sri Arshad Raja Tun Uda said: " We are not revealing the exact amount but it will be a special bonus for a special achievement."

Sports minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek, who officiated the launch, said the programme provided a timely motivational boost for the athletes.

"The programme, which spans till after the Olympics next year, gives the athletes even more motivation to win gold and hopefully bring home more medals than we have won in previous editions of the Games," said Ahmad Shabery.

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Badminton: BAM: Funds for all

Posted: 06 Jul 2011 05:25 PM PDT

2011/07/07
By K.M. Boopathy
boopathy@nstp.com.my

GOOD times are back for the grassroots as the BA of Malaysia (BAM) plans to utilise the bulk of its annual funding of about RM14 million for development.

It is a move which makes sense, especially if BAM plans to enjoy financial support from sponsors far into the future.

Lack of a lucrative sponsorship for almost a decade had forced BAM to depend heavily on the National Sports Council (NSC) for funding. BAM also slashed its budget for overseas tournaments, which slowed down the progress of the back-up players.

However, Maybank's six-year deal of RM41 million has allowed BAM to breathe easily again, especially as this is on top of the RM8 million it already has annually.

NSC is likely to continue contributing about RM3 million for tournaments, Proton and equipment sponsors Yonex provide RM2 million each while other forms of sponsorship and income fetch another RM1 million, which will give BAM an annual budget of RM14 million.

BAM secretary Ng Chin Chai said efforts will begin right away to ensure Malaysia has top quality back-up players when seniors like Lee Chong Wei and men's doubles Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong call it a day.

"Maybank's sponsorship is a timely boost as our annual expenses are continuously increasing. We have to strengthen our elite squad but there will be a bigger emphasis on back-up players as we will be able to send them for more international tournaments now," said Chin Chai.

"We had to cut down on tournaments before this due to budget constraints but lack of tournaments resulted in the world ranking of the back-up players dropping and this has denied them the opportunity of regularly playing in the grand prix and super series.

"We have asked the coaches to review their programmes until the end of the year and include the players in satellite and international challenge events to help them improve their world ranking and eventually move into the grand prix and super series events.

"Development in the states will also receive a major boost as they will get RM1.6 million annually. We will also employ a chief coach in every State.

"We will also provide funds for the states to organise at least two age groups tournaments each, which we hope can start by October.

"A further RM1 million will be spent for the national junior programme at the Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) as we need to produce world class talents.

Chin Chai said the long term target is for BAM to be financially independent.

"NSC has been supporting BAM for a long time but has indicated it will gradually reduce its funding. We have always been grateful for what NSC has done but we will receive whatever it offers as BAM is aware of the need to be financially independent."

That, should all parties do their part, will be achieved if results start flowing.

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Kredit: www.nst.com.my

Rabu, 6 Julai 2011

NST Online: Sports

NST Online: Sports

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