Kuala Lumpur Badminton Association’s recent tie-up with Banthongyord Badminton School in Bangkok, Thailand, will serve as a platform to expose young talents to an international environment.
The effort, according to KLBA deputy president Taupik Hussain, will be a part of its President’s Scholarship programme, to recognise the cream of the crop from the Malaysian capital.
“Our mission is to unearth the best talents, boys and girls, between the ages of 11 and 17, in Kuala Lumpur,” said Taupik.
“The tie-up with Banthongyord Badminton School will allow talents to be sent there for two or three weeks to experience badminton and life outside their comfort zone.”
Taupik said the partnership with the Bangkok badminton academy was part of the association’s plan of working closely with private clubs and schools in the city.
In March, KLBA president Datuk Seri Dr Jahaberdeen Mohamed Yunoos said his association would join forces with the Kuala Lumpur Education Department, to form a partnership with all 294 schools in the city.
He had then told Twentytwo13 that the idea to work with schools was to simply create a larger talent pool, in addition to the 80 elite players training under KLBA’s banner.
Taupik said the plan was still in the works, and that an announcement would be made soon.
“There were some minor issues to deal with, but we plan to get things going and launch the programme soon, so that the first batch of players who will be awarded the President’s Scholarship will get to train in Bangkok during the year-end school break,” added Taupik.
He added that KLBA will also announce the number of players who would be given the opportunity to play in Bangkok once they firm up the details of their new programme involving clubs and schools, and their sponsors.
Last week, KLBA signed a five-year partnership deal with Banthongyord Badminton School after KLBA coaching and training chairman, Datuk Razif Sidek and son Mohd Fazriq, visited the school during a junior event.
Representatives from the school were in town for the Malaysia Open and Malaysia Masters, and that got the ball rolling, which led to the announcement of the partnership.
