Should Malaysia start a professional badminton league? China and Indonesia are active in this area and even attracting players from Malaysia!!
Malaysia may have a big pool to us but can't compare to China or Indonesia, that's why it has not started yet. Just look at the new intake every year in BJSS, about 6 players for boys and 6 for girls and don't forget to minus the kick outs Our pool is about one tenth that of China if i am not wrong
It need not be like China's pro league. I have shared my views on a few aspiring privateers the idea on private league supported by BAM & state BAs (including Sabah, Sarawak, Brunei & Singapore). Obviously the latter is to attract sponsors to fuel this effort. My inclination is skewed towards grass roots simply because of the neglect in the foundation of our badminton. I can share more but only on request since I have been accused to be too ahead of my time.
You nailed it right on. Grass root league is potentially very rewarding for the searching and subsequently the development of new talents. The approach must be right in organizing it.
The pool in Denmark is only 90,000 and they have a thriving competitive league. Population 5.5 million ... "Just" need good coaching education . Football, handball and gymnastics are more popular there even/more members ... ~ 350,000 for football. Not even 10,000 for table tennis and they had some world class players recently ...
There's no doubt Denmark has good coaching program, producing world class player with a relatively small population but that's Denmark To add, here if China is at par with Denmark, there should be a dozen Lin Dan There were some proposals on such league tournament among the states here but i seriously doubt they will ever kick off.
BJSS ought to be more exciting in promoting badminton, the nation no.1 sport. It is up to the National Sport Council to draw up bigger plan and get the right budget for it. Schools are the normal channel for future players but what about those drop out from school? They would have more time to focus on the sport given the right opportunity.