KUALA LUMPUR: Former international Woon Khe Wei is all for BAM’s move to revert to its old junior programme, which players begin at age 13.
She said this will provide players with a strong foundation to become quality internationals.
Khe Wei herself was a product of BAM’s earlier system, where players were recruited at age 13 from the states.
BAM stopped this system in 2023 and opted instead for a shorter age group of 16–18.
However, this development programme came into question after Malaysia failed to have any representative in the quarter-finals of the boys’ singles, boys’ doubles and girls’ singles events at last month’s Asian Junior Championships in Solo, Indonesia.
This has led to BAM reverting to the old system.
“It’s always best to start the shuttlers younger, possibly at 13, like what BAM used to do. They will then get a five-year period to build a strong foundation,” said Khe Wei.
“Getting them in early is also important to correct their basic flaws and strengthen them physically. Full-time centralised training will help them become more focused and disciplined, and it’s also easier to mould them into goal-oriented players.
“It’s difficult to change playing styles and start building physical conditioning at 16. By that age, they should already be doing well in international junior events,” said Khe Wei who was the 2007 Asian Junior mixed doubles champion with Tan Wee Kiong.
Tan Boon Heong, who won the 2006 Asian Games gold with Koo Kien Keat at the age of 19, said lowering the national junior entry age has its benefits, but emphasized that senior-level success is what truly counts.
“It’s good if players join early, but from my experience, age wasn’t the crucial factor. I joined BAM at 15 (in 2002) and still managed to win titles,” said Boon Heong, who claimed the 2004 world junior title with Hoon Thien How.
“But generally, it’s better to start at 13. There’s a better chance to improve faster and win medals at Asian and World Junior levels.
“That said, being a junior champion doesn’t mean anything if you don’t succeed at senior level, like the World Championships or Olympics.
“Starting at 13 is good, as long as there’s a clear long-term goal.”
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
