New Straits Times » Sport Badminton: Ong banned three months K.M. Boopathy Feb 9: VETERAN shuttler Ong Ewe Hock was suspended three months and, along with 19 other players, dropped by the BA of Malaysia (BAM) yesterday as part of its bid to maintain quality and cut costs. Ong’s suspension should not hurt him as it ends on Feb 26, but being dropped from the national squad will as he is now on his own. Also going out was Sairul Amar Ayub, who was ranked world No 6 at one stage last year. Also dropped were Ismail Saman and Ramesh Nathan as singles coach Misbun Sidek opted for only 10 players despite BAM giving him the option of having 12 in the national squad. Previously, BAM had a total of 59 players in the national and Police Depot-based special project squads but the association announced the downsizing exercise in November due to lack of funds. The other seniors who failed to make the cut were Nazree Latifi and women M. Sutheaswary and K. Sugina. The national team now has 39 players. Besides the 10 players in the men’s singles squad, there are six in the women’s singles. Three players from the special project squad — Hazwan Jamaluddin, Stanley Savio Michael and Tan Zhao Rong — have been included in the men’s singles squad while Ooi Yu Hang is the only addition to the women’s squad. Doubles coach Yap Kim Hock has already confirmed the doubles players. Lok Chong Hong-Ong Soon Chiang from the project squad are the only newcomers in the 16-men doubles squad while the women’s doubles squad consists of seven players. BAM president Datuk Nadzmi Salleh, who chaired yesterday’s council meeting, said the selection was made by the coaches based on specific criteria such as the player’s potential and coach-player ratio for more individual attention. “We need to have a smaller squad to maintain quality and to focus on players with good potential. The council deliberated on the matter at length and approved the coaches’ decision to drop 20 players,” said Nadzmi. “The players will still be allowed to compete in local and international tournaments by securing their own sponsors. “In view of their services to the nation, they will continue to receive their allowances until March 31 and we will assist them if they need any help. “The players can also join clubs or form new clubs as this will be good development for the game. “If any of the players prove their worth while training on their own, they will be considered for the national team in the future.” The downsizing of the national team overshadowed the council’s decision to suspend Ong for publicly criticising BAM policies and its former secretary Zolkples Embong. In view of his 10-year service to the country, the BAM council felt that the disciplinary committee’s proposed one-year ban was too harsh and reduced it to three months. His ban was backdated to Nov 27 and ends on Feb 26. However, BAM did not take away his monthly allowance or deprive him of his world ranking incentives during the period. Also, BAM will not take any further action and has given Ong its blessings in his endeavour to get his own sponsors to continue his international career. “We have taken into account his services for the country and the council has decided on a three-month ban,” said Nadzmi. “We will also meet all the current players to explain the terms and conditions to avoid further problems. “The coaches should also look into the welfare of the players and inform the management if there is a major problem.” Ong, along with most of those dropped, are expected to join a new club which is in the midst of being formed by a local businessman. The club is expected to be based in Balakong and former national coach Indra Gunawan is most likely to be appointed as consultant coach. Meanwhile, BAM will only announce its new secretary next week but Nadzmi confirmed that the candidate will be a council member. Among the candidates who are tipped for the posts are Kelantan BA (KBA) secretary Nik Ariff Nik Mansor, Pahang BA (PBA) secretary Wan Mohamed Wan Awang and Perlis BA (PBA) secretary Mahizan Mustafa. The national squad — Men’s singles: Wong Choon Hann, James Chua, Lee Tsuen Seng, Lee Chong Wei, Yeoh Kay Bin, Kuan Beng Hong, K. Yogendran, Hazwan Jamaluddin, Stanley Michael, Tan Zhao Rong. Doubles: Chan Chong Ming-Chew Choon Eng, Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah, Chang Kim Wai-Hong Chien Hun, Gan Teik Chai-Lin Woon Fui, Fairuzizuan Tazari-Zakry Latif, Koo Kien Keat-Ong Soon Hock, Jack Koh-Tan Bin Shen, Lok Chong Hong-Ong Soon Chiang. Women’s singles: Wong Mew Choo, Ng Mee Fen, Wong Miew Kheng, K. Sugita, Woon Sze Mei, Ooi Yu Hang. Doubles: Wong Pei Tty-Chin Eei Hui, Norahashikin Amin-Fong Chew Yen, Tania Teoh-Marilyn Pang, See Phui Leng.
