GEORGE TOWN: It was a double celebration for the Penang Badminton Association.
As they celebrated their 90th year anniversary dinner at the Penang Golf Club in Bukit Jambul, their main sponsor Gosen Co. Ltd. announced an increase in sponsorship from RM70,000 per year to RM150,000.
Penang Badminton Association (PBA) president Kah Kau Kiak said the two-fold increase is due to the constant success by the state youth squad at the national junior circuit and also due to the confidence in the newly elected PBA council.
"Since the introduction of the junior circuit competition, our players have never failed to win at least two trophies each year. This year we won the overall champion award and the award for the state with most qualifiers for the GP final.
"The sponsorship is of a great help to us in the development of new and talented players and our coaches have been churning out players annually," Kah said during his speech at the 90th year anniversary dinner at the Penang Golf Club in Bukit Jambul on Monday.
PBA was the first badminton association to be formed in the country, followed by Perak four years later and the Badminton Association of Malaysia in 1935.
At the glittering event, PBA honoured some of the state's legendary Thomas Cuppers, including Ooi Teik Hock, Ong Poh Lim, Chan Kuan Leong, Datuk Eddy Choong, Datuk Teh Kew San, Tan Aik Huang and Yew Cheng Ho.
Also honoured were Tan Aik Mong Saw Swee Leong, Koay Kah Lin, Ong Yew Hock and Ong Yew Chye. Former World No 1 and two times Olympic silver medallist Datuk Lee Chong Wei and 15-year-old Goh Jin Wei, the first Malaysian to win the World Junior women singles title in Lima, Peru recently.
Kah said: "Ladies and gentlemen, to all the heroes of the Thomas Cup, we truly feel proud and grateful from the bottom of our hearts for your untiring contribution to the nation".
He also announced that PBA would organise the Malaysian Masters 2016 at the Spice Arena on Jan 19 to 24 next year.
Among those who will be in action are Datuk Lee Chong Wei, Chen Long, Lin Dan and many other top class players from around the world.