U12, U15 shuttlers to miss national age-group c’ships
File photo of winners of the second leg of the Sarawak Junior Closed tournament held in Kuching in September. All were hoping to represent Sarawak in the 100PLUS National Junior Inter-State U12 and U15 Championships to be held in Alor Setar, Kedah from Dec 16-20.
KUCHING: The 100PLUS National Junior Inter-State Team Under-12 and Under-15 Badminton Championships 2014 will be held in Alor Setar, Kedah from Dec 16-20.
The tournament, organised by the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM), brings together the country’s top shuttlers in the youngest age groups to battle for honours for their respective states.
Sarawak Badminton Association (SBA) have never failed to send the state teams in the tournament’s history. But it is different this year. In an unprecedented development, the state junior players will not be competing this time.
According to reliable sources, hopeful junior players, their parents and coaches are reportedly in a state of shock.
Their main grievance is that the players have been training for the tournament for months. Two state-level tournaments were actually held this year to serve as platforms to prepare and select players to represent the state. The players had first taken part in the first leg of the Sarawak Junior Closed in March this year.
Then in September, over 200 U12 and U15 boys and girls competed in the second leg also held at the SBA Hall, Kuching. They represented 17 training centres and clubs all over the state. Many had travelled from Miri, Sibu, Bintangor and Lawas. In previous years, semi-finalists in the state-level tournament stand a good chance to be selected to represent Sarawak at this national age-group team championships.
At press time, it is also known that SBA have not officially updated prospective state players – most of whom have intensified their training since September – and their training centres or clubs of the status of Sarawak’s participation.
The Borneo Post have confirmed that Sarawak is the only state in the country which has not entered for the national championships.
All other 13 BAM state affiliates – Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Kuala Lumpur, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Penang, Perak, Perlis, Sabah, Selangor and Terengganu – and associate affiliate Putrajaya have confirmed their participation.