KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s KL Racket Club (KLRC) are going international and could soon have a line-up to match the BA of Malaysia.
Already, they have recruited two foreign players – John Moody of New Zealand and Andrew Smith of England – to play under the banner of the professional outfit owned by Datuk Andrew Kam Tai Yeow.
And the icing on the cake looks set to be: Olympic champion Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia.
Andrew, currently the Badminton World Federation’s (BWF) legal adviser and council member, would not deny or confirm speculation that Taufik was poised to join their set-up.
http://www.thestar.com.my/archives/2006/12/16/sports/s_66taufik.jpg Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia.
“There is a possibility Taufik will play for the club. That’s all I can say for now,” said Andrew when met at his office at Empire Tower yesterday.
The good relationship between former world champion Taufik and Andrew is an open secret.
Taufik, who recently defended his men’s singles title in the Doha Asian Games, knocking out Malaysia’s Lee Chong Wei (semi-finals) and China’s Lin Dan (final) along the way, has frequented the club several times this year for friendly matches.
In fact, Malaysia could be an ideal base for Taufik as he prepares to re-claim the world title when the championship is hosted in Malaysia from Aug 12-19.
“We have several international players knocking on the doors of the club. It will do a world of good for our club to have reputable players as our members,” said Andrew.
Although KLRC are opening theirs door for foreign players, Andrew says the priority remains in providing opportunities for local players.
The KLRC, who were only formed last year June, have become a platform for dropouts from the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) to revive their badminton careers.
Some of their top players are former internationals Sairul Amar Ayob, Lee Tsuen Seng, Ismail Saman, Joanne Quay, Lim Pek Siah, Chor Hooi Yee, Ang Li Peng and M. Sutheaswari.
The club received a major boost on Tuesday when they signed a sponsorship deal with Amer Sports (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, who own the Wilson brand.
To make it more memorable, Sairul and Tsuen Seng, who were this year’s Dutch and New Zealand Open champions, received RM20,000 each as incentives.
Andrew believes that the club system could be the answer for Malaysian badminton and quashed notions that the club were competing with BAM.
“We are here to complement the national body. We want to give a fair chance to players to prove themselves at international level. We have the same goal as the BAM – to make champions out of our players,” he said. “We do not entertain mediocrity. I have promised my players RM100,000 if they win the All-England title. We are serious in developing the sport. It will be good to revive the club systems as that will increase the pool of players for the country.”
There are 15 players under KLRC, including some promising juniors aged between 18-19 years old. Two prominent coaches in the set-up are Indonesian adviser Indra Gunawan and Ong Beng Teong.

means Taufik leave Indonesian team?
i dont think so he seems very close with the sutoyono coach guy(pardon if i spelled his name wrong)

whaaat!!! O.O

i disagree!! >.< hes indonesia's best player!!! >.<

no....he'll still represent indonesia just that he trians in KLRC....like Andrew Smith

no.. he'll still train indo... but he may represent the KL club in some competitions within malaysia etc.

That's interesting! :p lol :D just like Andrew Smith :rolleyes: if he does join, will this affect his individual results? :rolleyes: ;) haha :D

No wonder he has frequent his visit to Msia.

That's interesting! :p lol :D just like Andrew Smith :rolleyes: if he does join, will this affect his individual results? :rolleyes: ;) haha :Ddefinately will!! haha.. coz KLRC's coaches r not as superb as indos.. lol.. jux kiddin

No wonder he has frequent his visit to Msia.

hey ants, have a party la and invite him and us over when he is over here ...:)

izit jux like roslin hashim...? playing for dunno wat V....dyll[sry..forgotten da spelling ady..] club in denmark.. train there n play for MAS?? thats funny.. lolz..

hey ants, have a party la and invite him and us over when he is over here ...:)


Hahah.. thats not possible bro. Dont think he will be in Msia for Christmas.

hey ants, i'm surprised you haven't heard about this earlier.
or have you been witholding info from us??
:rolleyes:

I don't understand. Why is the club and national training system different?

Taufik's is confirmed joining KLRC......
Now he n chong wei can practice together more often adi.... dun bother me... im just talking crap here other than the 1st line

Ya...today i read some newspaper,they verified that taufik is joining the club and from now onwards he will be traning at Mas...

hey ants, i'm surprised you haven't heard about this earlier.
or have you been witholding info from us??
:rolleyes:

Hehe.. not saying anything.. ;)

lolz..i dun wan taufik to come n train at klrc le.. his standard sure will drop if he continue to training here.. unless he is training under li mao..

I heard that Taufik can represent Malaysia if he stays in Malaysia at least 3 months and get the consent from PBSI.

my theories:

A. he knows he got lucky at 06 AG and knows he needed more skills and training to really beat LD (and not by LD beating himself) LOL Oh yea, there are CJ and CH to beat in 2007 and 2008 too. LOL Staying home won't get him those extra skills.

B. TH want to pass on some of his skills to LCW and hafiz so maybe they could share the burden of beating LD LOL

C. Maybe BAM pocket is bigger than pbsi:D

D. of course, all of above :p

I agree with C. Seems that it's all about money now.. $$.. :D But I kinda think it's a good thing somehow. Players should have good relationship among themselves.. It's sounds really good that he'll be training with our players. ;)

1) KLRC pocket is bigger than PBSI. BAM is a diff entity.
2) If Taufik comes... how far behind / ahead is Coach Mulyo?

:D

Ya...today i read some newspaper,they verified that taufik is joining the club and from now onwards he will be traning at Mas...

really? what newspaper?

THIS will be interesting... hehe...

i read it also...the chances 4 taufik to represent msia in badminton is very slim.....he is coming to malaysia today...he get 7 digit pay....this is wat the newspaper wrote...dunno how far is true...

i read it also...the chances 4 taufik to represent msia in badminton is very slim.....he is coming to malaysia today...he get 7 digit pay....this is wat the newspaper wrote...dunno how far is true...lolz.. hundred thousand M'sia bucks.. if convert into indo bucks..lolz.. more den millionare.. haha.. but if taufik come here one more thing benefits him.. m'sia is more peaceful den indo.. haha

my theories:

A. he knows he got lucky at 06 AG and knows he needed more skills and training to really beat LD (and not by LD beating himself) LOL Oh yea, there are CJ and CH to beat in2007 and 2008 too. LOL Staying home won't get him those extra skills.

a lucky word doen't exist in TH's dictionary :D.... LD was just not lucky to meet the best taufik in the final AG 06 :p :p

:D taufik-ist. maybe u are right.. haha...true i guess... but i think it's better to not use the word the best taufik or people will start debating about it again... :D although i really seriously agree he is a way so good player..:) hmm, taufik trains in msia, but did any media said he'll be representing msia?! i dont think he would, dont u think so? :p

:D taufik-ist. maybe u are right.. haha...true i guess... but i think it's better to not use the word the best taufik or people will start debating about it again... :D although i really seriously agree he is a way so good player..:) hmm, taufik trains in msia, but did any media said he'll be representing msia?! i dont think he would, dont u think so? :p

nop, i think that's just the issue,

taufik has been sealed "not for sale" :D

:D indeed, i think so too.. he'll just train with us, not representing msia.. :D

85% chances that Taufik Will be playing under KLRC. I say "UNDER KLRC" and not Representing Malaysia. He may not be training in KLRC the whole year. Probably one or 2 weeks in a month. The rest he will be training with PBSI. Mulyo most likely will be training Taufik in KLRC.

:D Yes, that is good enough. Training UNDER KLRC, also training with our players.. may help us improve.. :D

maybe TH don't like training with simon santoso or don't think highly of him. TH rather transfer knowledge to MAL team than to the young indo players. Hmmm.

LCW could definately benefit from havin Taufik around. I don't believe LCW has beaten Taufik yet.

I reckon Datuk Andrew is probably asking him to train with KLRC in hope to raise other players standard.. of coz.. surely theres some nice complementary reward along with that... namely some money and good accomodation.. Dont think TH got anything to lose

LCW could definately benefit from havin Taufik around. I don't believe LCW has beaten Taufik yet.

Probably, but I don't think LCW trains or plays at KLRC. He is with the national team or Nusa team. Other players will benefit if this happens though-Sairul, LTS and Andrew Smith even(?)

Tuesday January 16, 2007


Badminton: Dollars and sense for Taufik

INDONESIAN superstar Taufik Hidayat will have the Kuala Lumpur Racket Club (KLRC) as his individual sponsors if the All-Indonesia Badminton Association (PBSI) give the nod soon.

The 26-year-old Taufik said yesterday that he had come to an agreement with the club, owned by Datuk Andrew Kam.

And if the PBSI give the green light, Taufik will be the first Indonesian to have the name of individual sponsors on his attire in international competitions.

The Olympic and Asian Games champion said that he hoped to be wearing attire with the KLRC name on them before the prestigious All-England in March.

“The KLRC want to sponsor me and I have agreed. We are waiting for the PBSI to give the okay,” said the 2005 World Championships winner.

Previously, no individual sponsors came into the picture because they have to pay a hefty US$300,000 (RM1.06 million) fee to the PBSI.

“The amount is for the whole Indonesian team. It is a very high fee and I have made a request to the PBSI to lower it because it is an individual sponsorship. Previously, they do not allow individual sponsors,” said Taufik.

Although the sponsorship is Malaysian-based, Taufik said that there is no question about his commitment to his country.

“I will play for Indonesia. But I have not decided on the training base. I could be in both places ... it all depends. But, of course, I will carry Indonesia's name in every tournament.”

Taufik said that he was agreeable to KLRC becoming his sponsors because of his good relationship with Andrew.

“I am also not getting any younger. It is a good opportunity for me to make money to secure my future,” he said.

On the amount of the sponsorship deal with KLRC, Taufik said: “Let’s wait for positive news from the PBSI first.”

On his first-round match against world number one Lin Dan in the Malaysian Open tomorrow, Taufik said that he was looking forward to another showdown with the Chinese.

Their last encounter in the Asian Games men’s singles final in Doha last month ended in victory for the Indonesian. But Taufik was beaten by Lin Dan in the team competition earlier. Both the matches were rated as top-class fare.

i thought taufik said that he only gettin sponsorship from KLRC and not playing for msia rite????

my theories:

A. he knows he got lucky at 06 AG and knows he needed more skills and training to really beat LD (and not by LD beating himself) LOL Oh yea, there are CJ and CH to beat in 2007 and 2008 too. LOL Staying home won't get him those extra skills.

B. TH want to pass on some of his skills to LCW and hafiz so maybe they could share the burden of beating LD LOL

C. Maybe BAM pocket is bigger than pbsi:D

D. of course, all of above :p
yes.. i think d is the answer... ALL OF THEM.... i think TH din really played the best in AG finals... he just lucked out... i used to watch TH's explosive smashes but i don't really see them now...

what d?I guess the prize is so little compared to what he got from indo last time.He got almost 400.000 ringgit bonus last time n i bet he get alot more now as his father in law is a big man.So,i dont really see the point why he wants to move..