Kuala Lumpur, 6 September 2018 – A national-level badminton championship organised by Astro to identify under-15 talents received a resounding response from teams across the nation. The selected 32 teams came together today for the launch of the Astro Junior Championship U15 which was officiated by YB Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, Youth and Sports Minister. The Championship will run from September 6 to 9 at Stadium Juara, Bukit Kiara, Kuala Lumpur, and is open to the public to watch. Spectators at the Astro Junior Championship U15 will stand chances to win attractive Astro merchandise which will be given out as prizes.
Astro Junior Championship U15 is an extension of the successful Astro Kem Badminton, a collaboration between Yayasan Astro Kasih, Ministry of Youth and Sports, Ministry of Education and Badminton Association Malaysia (BAM), which has benefited more than 15,800 participants between the ages 10 – 12 since its inception in 2012. 358 top participants from Astro Kem Badminton were selected for a one-week intensive training held in Kuala Lumpur, conducted by professional and qualified coaches from BAM and 245 outstanding participants underwent two-weeks of rigorous training at the National Training Centre in Tokyo, Japan, under the stewardship of Japan’s National Coach. These participants were housed at the prestigious Japan Olympic Village.
This inaugural Championship was open to existing clubs, state badminton associations, schools as well as independent teams. Winning teams from the Astro Junior Championship U15 will take home a combined prize pool of RM14,000 (Champion: RM5,000; Runner-up: RM4,000; 2 x Semi-Finalists: RM2,500 each) as well as a trophy and medals.
Held together with the launch of the Championship was the signing of a strategic partnership between Badminton Association Malaysia (BAM) and Astro which will see among others, BAM endorsement of Astro Kem Badminton programmes as well as provide technical support for Astro Junior Championship U15.
YB Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, noted, “It is encouraging to have the private and public sectors collaborating to sustain Malaysia’s badminton legacy and upgrade playing standards, especially among future shuttlers. Currently the future of badminton in Malaysia has a potential-gap that needs to be filled progressively to ensure Malaysia continues to be represented globally in this game. I am sure, through Astro Junior Championship and the existing Astro Kem Badminton, we will discover and nurture our future badminton stars.”
“The ministry looks forward to more private-public sector collaborations such as this to maximise resources and reach for the betterment of our nation’s sports programmes. I, personally had a great time at Astro Junior Championship engaging with badminton fans and students from all over and I am confident that all participants will challenge themselves to give their best. I can feel the high spirits of this event and congratulate Astro and BAM for all their effort in ensuring Malaysia rise and shine as a champion badminton nation.”
The minister had a game-play with national player Jacky Kok Jing Hong, Asia’s Number 1 ranked badminton player U17, to start off the Championship to the crowd’s enjoyment. Joining the event were Dato’ Sri Mohamad Norza Zakaria, President of BAM and Henry Tan, CEO-designate, Astro.
Henry Tan, CEO-designate, Astro, said, “Astro believes a greater future in sports now lay in our children. We acknowledge the vital role we hold as a media in shaping the development of sports, in Malaysia as well as in locations we operate. We have been actively working in serving the community through our program Astro Kasih, in which several sports-related verticals have taken place, among which is Astro Kem Badminton and Astro Kem Bola, in Malaysia and in the ASEAN region. Through Kem Badminton, we have been involved in the training of young aspiring badminton stars nationwide with some advancing to Japan for more intensive training. Today, we are pleased to continue our collaboration with our long-standing partner, the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) for an additional 3 years to help raise the standards of badminton in our country through a series of programmes.”
The collaboration between Astro and BAM will facilitate various badminton programmes held around the nation. As a nation, rich with raw, untapped talent in our future generation, the onus to nurture these unrealised prospects should be a shared responsibility between all influencers of our youth, including parents, the private and public sector.
Dato’ Sri Mohamad Norza Zakaria, President of BAM, said, “Astro is no stranger to BAM, having worked with us on many programmes in the past. Astro has always been a great supporter of local sports especially through Astro Arena. For Astro Junior Championship, we have extended the services of our qualified Technical Officials Team which includes Referees, Umpires, and Linesmen. This is to ensure the game carries the highest standards for play and judging process. We believe in setting our standard high right from the beginning.”
For more information on the Astro Junior Championship, visit:
www.astrokasih.org/championships
