MALAYSIA will have Olympics host Japan to thank for if they win the gold medal in Tokyo next year.
Several national shuttlers will be sent for a series of training stints in Ehime Prefecture in Shikoku in the hope that the exposure will help them not only to qualify for next year’s Olympics but also win at least a title.
Japanese ambassador to Malaysia, Hiroshi Oka hopes the stints will benefit the shuttlers under the BA of Malaysia (BAM).
Oka, a native of Ehime Prefecture, visited the national players at the Akademi Badminton Malaysia (ABM) in Bukit Kiara yesterday.
A group of 20 shuttlers will head to Matsuyama, the capital of Ehime, for their first stint on Dec 22-29.
‘I wish the best for Malaysian shuttlers who will be competing in the Olympics. I hope they can win their first gold medal in Tokyo next year,’said Oka yesterday.
‘I gave them words of encouragement in the hope that they will be inspired to achieve their dreams.
‘The governor of Ehime (Tokihiro Nakamura) is also an avid badminton fan, and I believe the players will enjoy their training there.
‘I hope the training sessions in Ehime will contribute to their success in the Olympics.’
BAM secretary-general Datuk Kenny Goh thanked Oka for motivating the shuttlers.
‘We are honoured to have Oka here as he is the first ambassador to visit our centre,’ said Kenny.
‘We are looking forward to our first training stint in Ehime.’
Sea Games champion Lee Zii Jia (men’s singles), Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, Teo Ee Yi-Ong Yew Sin (men’s doubles), Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai, Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing (mixed doubles) and Chow Mei Kuan-Lee Meng Yean (women’s doubles), along with back-up players Loh Hang Yee and Ng Eng Cheong have been picked for the stint.