KUALA LUMPUR: The BA of Malaysia (BAM) on Monday dropped eight shuttlers from the national squad in line with their objective to move forward by focusing on youth.
"We had 67 shuttlers following the recent resignations of Tee Jing Yi, Soong Fie Cho, Chooi Kah Ming and Low Juan Shen, and today we dropped eight players,” said the national body’s coaching and training (C&T) committee chairman Datuk Ng Chin Chai on Monday.
"However, we will not reveal their identities today. We want the coaches to inform them first.
“We are now left with 55 players in the national squad and we may add more shuttlers by the end of the year.
“Our objective is to have about 60 players.”
He disclosed that the players axed include two from men's singles, four men’s doubles and two women's doubles.
"They were dropped based on assessments conducted by coaches. We did so as we feel they can’t go far anymore,” said Ng.
Ng also confirmed that Indonesian Paulus Firman has been promoted to men's doubles head coach, replacing Cheah Soon Kit.
Cheah, who has done little to improve the state of the men's doubles department, will be in charge of junior pairs.
As for the World Championships in Nanjing on July 30-Aug 5, Ng said BAM hope their shuttlers can return with a medal.
The committee also decided that smoking tests will be conducted on players once in every three months.