Source: Sipa USA/Sports Press Photo
[Saba Sports News] A total of 320 players who participated in the “2024 Jejak Juara” Badminton Championships will join the training program organized by the Kuala Lumpur Badminton Association (KLBS) and enter four specialized training camps. Among them, 94 exceptional players will also be selected to join the KLBS elite team. These 320 young players were chosen from a pool of 2,600 participants in the championship that commenced on June 10. The coaching team recognized their abilities and potential. The Jejak Juara project, scheduled to run from 2022 to 2027, aims to develop a group of highly skilled badminton players to reduce Malaysia’s reliance on a few individuals at the international level. KLBS Chairman Datuk Seri Dr Jahaberdeen Mohamed Yunoos mentioned the discovery of talented female badminton players during this championship. With proper training, he believes they will become future pillars of the national team. Following the retirement of stars like Lee Chong Wei, Malaysian badminton has experienced a decline, prompting the Malaysian Badminton Association to prioritize youth training and the discovery of young players with potential, setting an example for other nations.