Former national No. 1 and 2017 SEA Games gold medallist Goh Jin Wei will be given the time she needs to be fit for the Uber Cup Finals in Aarhus, Denmark, from Oct 3-11.
Goh, who underwent colonoscopy surgery late last year, has only played in two tournaments this year – Thailand Masters (January) and the Asia Team Championships (February) in Manila.
She is still feeling the effects of her surgery and has yet to resume full training with the national team.
Despite that, Wong said she remains a key member of the national team.
“We only have to name the team for the Uber Cup Finals two weeks before it starts. That gives her plenty of time to get back into shape,” said Wong.
“She has had her fair share of injuries in the past, but there is no doubting her talent.
“Goh is an important member of the national team, and we shall help her as much as we can.”
Malaysia is in Group B of the Uber Cup with South Korea, Indonesia and Australia and must finish in the top two to reach the quarterfinals.
Separately, Wong said the BAM Invitational Championships which started today is to give the players some ‘competition feel’.
This is the first local badminton tournament since restrictions were lifted on sporting competitions due to Covid-19.
The round-robin tournament is in two stages. In this week’s Stage 1, six back-up men’s singles shuttlers will vie for the top two qualifying spots in Division 2 where the champion and runner-up are promoted to the top flight.
Next week, will see the Division 1 players featuring in all five categories – men’s and women’s singles and doubles and mixed doubles.
The event, without spectators, is at the Academy Badminton Malaysia in Bukit Kiara, Kuala Lumpur.
Here’s a round-up of The News Normal today.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TUNKU AZIZAH
Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah celebrates her 60th birthday today.
Here’s wishing Tunku Azizah a wonderful celebration and many happy returns.
UNIVERSITIES ARE NOT FACTORIES
The usage of the concept of human capital as a proxy for training and education, budget cuts and the demand for greater efficiency are turning universities into factories.
Associate Professor Dr Azeem Fazwan Ahmad Farouk, Director, Centre for Policy Research and International Studies in Universiti Sains Malaysia, said governments tend to listen to the owners of capital rather than to academics.
And to save costs, academic programmes that are not popular by market standards risk being shelved by the universities’ management.
MONEY FOR NEW VILLAGES UNCLAIMED
Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin says a large portion of the RM60mil government allocation for Chinese new villages remains unclaimed as many states have yet to appoint new heads.
Only Perlis, Kuala Lumpur and Kelantan have retained the present village heads till the end of this year.
Of the RM60mil, Zuraida said RM40mil was for infrastructure development, RM5mil for home repairs and RM15mil for special grants.
RFID PENETRATION RISES IN NORTHERN REGION
PLUS Malaysia Bhd’s (PLUS) public pilot programme for RFID in the north has been seeing an upward trend as Kedahans and Penangites migrate to a contactless and cashless payment system.
The penetration rate increased from 2.3 per cent two weeks ago to 10 per cent today.
The nine designated closed toll plazas are Hutan Kampung, Alor Setar Utara, Alor Setar Selatan, Pendang, Gurun, Sungai Petani Utara, Sungai Petani Selatan, Bertam and Sungai Dua.
HOW YOU CAN HELP LEBANON
Last night, two huge explosions rocked Beirut, killing scores and wounding thousands of people, shaking buildings and sending huge plumes of smoke billowing into the Beirut sky.
The country needs help and if you want to donate, you can do so here.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said based on the initial report from the Malaysian Embassy in Beirut, all Malaysians in Lebanon are safe.
KISONA NOMINATED FOR ATHLETE OF THE YEAR AWARD
S. Kisona, the women’s singles gold medallist at the SEA Games in the Philippines last year, is among the shortlisted candidates for the Athlete of the Year Award at this year’s Sportswriters Association of Malaysia (SAM)-100PLUS Awards 2019.
The other nominees are gymnastics queen Farah Ann Abdul Hadi, wushu exponent Loh Choon How, figure skater Julian Yee and track cyclist Mohd Azizulhasni Awang, the 2016 winner.
Nominees for Para Athlete of the Year Award are powerlifter Bonnie Bunyau Gustin, archers S. Suresh and Wiro Anak Julin and shot putter Muhd Ziyad Zolkefli.
The winner for each category will receive RM10,000 and a trophy.
