Source: Oriental Image/Jiang Xu
[Saba Sports News] Recently, Malaysian badminton legend Datuk Abdul Rashid Mohamed Sidek led the Malaysia University team on a series of friendly matches in Bangkok. In an interview, Rashid said that Thailand’s rising badminton presence is not accidental but a result of their club system, which has developed strongly over the past 15 years. He believes Thailand has the potential to win its first Olympic gold medal at the 2028 Los Angeles Games. Rashid further explained that Thailand’s success in badminton is largely due to their club system, particularly the Banthongyord Badminton School founded by former national player Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul. In 2013, Thailand’s first badminton world champion, Ratchanok Intanon, was trained through this system. The current men’s singles world number one and 2023 badminton world champion, Kunlavut Vitidsarn, also came from this club system. In Thailand, badminton does not rely on the national system for development. Clubs have a complete training system that starts from age ten. Rashid admitted that Thailand may now have the advantage in winning titles, and even if they win the Olympic gold before Malaysia, he wouldn’t be surprised.