The Badminton Association of Malaysia has imposed strict hostel rules on the players, and the performance committee chairman, Datuk Seri Lee Chong Wei, reflected on the matter. The BAM has issued guidelines for players, following which the council will not tolerate players who fail to adhere to hostel rules.

On Saturday, at the BAM's council meeting, Chong Wei defended the regulations while talking about the rules in other countries like China, where athletes, even if married, need to live in hostels.

"In China, even if you are married, you have to stay inside," he said. "We have flexibility here. It's not like you have to be here full-time every single day."

He also highlighted that the seniors of the team should follow the rules, as the juniors look up to them.

"Senior players are the icons of our association and also for Malaysia," he added. "It's very important because all the young generation, regardless of whether they are from the state, juniors, or backup players, they all look at our seniors. Whatever the seniors do, they will follow."

National badminton stars in Malaysia have to live in the hostels at Bukit Kiara. However, married players have the flexibility to live outside.

The hostel residents have some exceptions, like on weekends when they can go home. Also, on regular days, they are allowed to be outside only until 10:30 p.m. Moreover, there are exceptions for important events.

"If there is an event, you can just reply, maybe, 'today I'm back late because I have a dinner' or 'we are receiving an award.' These are the rules and regulations we set for our BAM player," Chong Wei said.

Chong Wei is focused on the players' performance, and not only did he talk about the strict rules, but he also reflected on the Olympic preparation.

Lee Chong Wei Demands Early Preparations for Olympics

On Saturday, Lee Chong Wei also reflected on the players' preparations for the upcoming 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. He called for preparations to start in advance and not wait until the last minute.

"I don't want to wait until the last minute," Chong Wei said. "Because next year is a very important year, the qualification for the Olympics will start. Normally, in January, people will start testing or changing partners. I told the coaches not to wait until January."

He also added that Malaysia's head coach, Herry Iman Pierngadi, had been given full authority to decide the new combinations for doubles and start preparations. The experiment with scratch teams is expected to begin at the Japan Open, China Open, Malaysia Open, and French Open.

Starting preparations early can help the team gain momentum, and if they manage to perform well, the pairing can be considered for the Olympics.

As the Olympics approach, what are your opinions on the strict rules of BAM for shuttlers? Let us know in the comments.

Written by

Ankita Yadav

Edited by

Ankita Yadav