Prize winners of the 2025 Sarawak Junior Badminton Tournament Boys Singles U16 category seen with Wan Lizozman (left) and Wan Khalik (right) yesterday.
KUCHING (Sept 8): The Sarawak Badminton Association (SBA) is preparing for a major push to elevate the sport in the state, with plans to revive the Sarawak Open tournament and introduce a 2030 roadmap aimed at producing world-class players, said its president Dato Sri Dr Wan Lizozman Wan Omar.
The hope is to hold the Sarawak Open as early as next year, pending sponsorship. The tournament aims to attract top Malaysian and international players, creating an important platform for Sarawak shuttlers to gain competitive exposure.
“This will expose our players in Sarawak as well to this competitive tournament,” he explained when officiating the Sarawak Junior Badminton Tournament finals and prize-giving ceremony at the SBA Badminton Hall here yesterday.
The Sarawak Open, previously the premier event in the local badminton calendar, has not been held for more than a decade.
At the same event, Wan Lizozman also revealed that a comprehensive 2030 roadmap will provide a more structured and long-term approach to developing badminton in the state.
“The goal is for us to produce world-class players. It can happen in the next five years, it can happen in the next ten years. What is important is for us to plant the seeds of development from now onward,” he said.
He pointed out that the roadmap will focus on three main areas. The first is grassroots transformation, which involves discovering new talent across Sarawak through schools, communities, clubs and local associations.
The second is creating a more competitive environment by organising more tournaments and inviting foreign players to participate, ensuring Sarawak shuttlers are exposed to higher standards of play.
“The third is coaching development, with emphasis on improving the skills and knowledge of trainers so they can better nurture young athletes,” he said to stress the vital role of coaches in shaping the next generation of shuttlers through imbuing discipline, determination and perseverance.
He also expressed gratitude to parents, officials and volunteers whose continuous support, he said, is crucial to building a strong badminton culture in Sarawak.
Also present during the event was Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Deputy Minister Datuk Dr Ripin Lamat who is also Miri Badminton Association president, SBA secretary Datuk Dr Wan Khalik Wan Muhammad and deputy president Ting Wei Ping.
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