GEORGE TOWN: Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow hopes to continue Penang's legacy as a badminton powerhouse.
Speaking at his office in Komtar here today during the announcement of a proposed RM460 million badminton academy, Chow said Penang had produced badminton greats such as Datuk Lee Chong Wei, Chan Peng Soon, Lim Khim Wah and Ong Ewe Hock.
"With the setting up of this badminton academy, we hope to be able to produce more badminton greats in future, to bring fame and glory to the country.
"What is equally important is that we want to ensure we are able to retain our homegrown talents," he said.
If all goes well, work on the badminton academy is expected to begin in the first quarter of next year and will take approximately five years to complete.
To be sited at Persiaran Karpal Singh, the complex will have 27 courts to cater to 2,500 people at any one time, other sports facilities, sports gallery, museum and eateries.
Penang had called for a request for proposal (RFP) in 2019.
On March 2 last year, PGBC Sdn Bhd was appointed to implement the project using the built-operate-transfer (BOT) concept.
The RM56 million state land, where the badminton academy will be sited, will be leased to PGBC under a 60 + 30 years term.
Meanwhile, Ong, who is PGBC founder and chairman, said Penang had all this while been good in badminton.
"It is our aim to groom more people to take up this sports and represent the country in future on the international stage."