KUALA LUMPUR: The BAM have done everything possible to persuade women's singles Goh Jin Wei to not quit badminton. But to no avail.
It is understood that the two-time world junior champion first tendered her resignation early last month, but following several discussions with BAM coaching director Wong Choong Hann, national women's singles head coach, Indra Wijaya, and BAM's top management, Jin Wei, 21, decided to stay on.
BAM were well aware that Jin Wei, who underwent colectomy surgery in 2019, was struggling to return to full fitness.
To make matters worse, Jin Wei was forced to skip training after testing positive for Covid-19 on her return from the Spanish International Challenge in June.
Upon resuming full training at the end of July, the coaches realised that Jin Wei was still struggling with her form.
BAM then convinced the shuttler to stay on, as she was determined to make the team for the Sudirman Cup in Vantaa, Finland, on Sept 26-Oct 3, and the Uber Cup in Aarhus, Denmark on Oct 9-17.
"After all the discussions, we made it very clear that we had no issues with her wanting to be in the squads for the Sudirman Cup and Uber Cup.
"But the coaches noticed that she was not ready for competitive action for the Sudirman Cup, and that it would be better to focus on the Uber Cup instead.
"We have basically done everything we can to convince her to stay, but she still decided to tender her resignation again. We will respect her decision and thank her for everything she has done," Choong Hann said.
Yesterday, Jin Wei dropped a bombshell by posting a seven-minute video confirming her retirement from the sport, just two days after being selected for the Uber Cup squad.
The Penang-born prodigy - once touted to be the next big thing in Malaysian women's singles - cited health issues for her resignation.