Badminton

NSC allow pro shuttlers to train at selected courts

After nearly a week without training, professional shuttlers have finally been given the clearance to train at selected courts during the Movement Control Order (MCO).

Mixed doubles player Chan Peng Soon said the National Sports Council (NSC) have issued a letter allowing them to resume training today.

Last week, independent players were left stranded when the government declared a third MCO in the Klang Valley due to the Covid-19 spike.

On Monday, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced a nationwide MCO beginning today, to curb the spread of Covid-19.

"It was difficult because we can't just stop training, especially at this crucial point of time.

"Thankfully the NSC has granted us special permission to continue training at our training centre in Endah Parade.

"The courts, however, will remain closed to the public. It is only for us who are representing the country," said Peng Soon, who together with his partner, Goh Liu Ying, have virtually qualified for the Tokyo Olympics.

Peng Soon-Liu Ying are preparing for the Singapore Open on June 1-6, which is also the last tournament to offer Olympic qualifying points.

The World No 7 have also been offered by the BAM to train with the national squad at the Academy Badminton Malaysia (ABM) in Bukit Kiara, in July.

The offer was extended to independent women's singles, Soniia Cheah, who is also Tokyo-bound.

"Yes, we got the offer from BAM, but we have yet to make a decision because there is a one-week self isolation period if we decide to train at ABM.

"July is going to be tight with the Olympics, so we will see. We can't afford to miss that many days of training," added Peng Soon.

Currently there are two groups of professional players that train at Endah Parade and in Cheras.

National shuttlers are not affected by the MCO as they are already under a quarantine-based training programme.

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