Badminton Squad For Asian Games Not Finalised - Malaysia's BAM

KUALA LUMPUR, June 5 (Bernama) -- The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) has yet to decide on the total number of players who will represent the country at the Asian Games in Jakarta-Palembang in August, as there are several players who will be placed in category B. BAM secretary-general Ng Chin Chai said the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) this time had set that only athletes who were in the top four of the Asian ranking or at least finished among the top four in the 2014 Asian Games, would be placed in category A. "BAM had earlier requested for 20 players comprising 10 men and 10 women to be listed for the Asian Games, but limited to only 14 players - 10 men and four women - in category A. "If we want to send players for the team events, women's singles and women's doubles, they can join under category B," he told reporters after attending the athlete selection committee meeting with the OCM here Monday. Ng said any decision over the matter would only be made after a meeting was held. Category A athletes are those who will be fully sponsored while for category B participation, the association will have to bear the cost up front, and it will be reimbursed if the athlete manages to win at least a bronze medal. Meanwhile, Ng said BAM had not received any update from the World Badminton Federation on the appeal of former professional player, Zulfadli Zulkiffli over an alleged match-fixing scandal.\ -- BERNAMA