Singapore Badminton Association hands $70k boost to its players in LA 2028 push

SINGAPORE – Buoyed by their respectable showing at the Paris Olympics, the Singapore Badminton Association (SBA) on Oct 2 handed out a total of $70,000 to its full-time players in a new initiative to recognise their commitment and spur them to qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

Loh Kean Yew, Jason Teh, Joel Koh, Marcus Lau, Yeo Jia Min, Jaslyn Hooi, Insyirah Khan, Megan Lee, Johann Prajogo, Loh Kean Hean, Heng Xiao En, Jin Yujia, Terry Hee and Jessica Tan each received $4,000 in cash and $1,000 in FairPrice vouchers at an event at the Singapore Swimming Club.

Besides the incentive for full-time players for the SBA’s financial year ending March 2024, the only part-time national player, Grace Chua, also received $2,500.

SBA president Lawrence Leow, who was re-elected unopposed at the annual general meeting on Sept 21, said: “We often focus on the Olympians, but those who have dedicated years of their lives training to qualify for the Olympics should be celebrated too.

“I am looking forward to the next generation stepping up in the next Olympic Games. Along the way, I’m confident that they will inspire many more young Singaporeans to pursue the sport of badminton as a career.”

He added that he aims to continue building a strong talent pipeline, growing the base of both recreational and competitive players, augmenting the gratuity fund for retiring players and establishing a tailored athlete life coaching programme in his final term.

Singapore’s players achieved several breakthroughs at the Paris Olympics.

Hee and Tan became the first local-born pair to

qualify for the mixed doubles event,

while Kean Yew and Yeo made it past the group stage on their second attempt and matched the nation’s best finish as they

reached the quarter-finals

and last 16 respectively.

While the quartet have achieved commendable results in the past few years – including Kean Yew’s world title in 2021 and several triumphs on the Badminton World Federation World Tour – a small talent pool, combined with injuries and dropouts, meant that they are the only players ranked in the top 100 alongside the improving Teh.

Arun Cavale, SBA vice-president of pathway and development, said: “Our ambition is to become a leading badminton nation, with multiple players ranked in the top 50 in the world in every discipline. For that to happen, more players should enter the system.

“We are either establishing, or have put in place, player development funds, career counselling and post-career support programmes.

“We are continually seeking corporate partnerships and sponsorships. It is important that players and their parents see badminton as a viable career.”

The SBA feels that it has capable players who can step up in the new Olympic cycle, notably men’s doubles pair Wesley Koh and Junsuke Kubo.

They won the Polish International on Sept 22 after they completed full-time national service in July.

Singapore’s top female player Yeo was appreciative of the new SBA incentive which, along with her Sports Excellence Scholarship and BWF World Tour winnings, will help the 25-year-old save for the future as she works towards qualifying and doing well at LA 2028 and winning more tournaments in the build-up.

Sharing that she will give her parents a treat, she added: “This year’s Olympics was a valuable experience for me.

“Leading up to the next Olympics, I need to keep reflecting after every loss to mature more and increase my ability.

“My goal is to be world champion and I want to challenge myself.”

The players’ parents were also heartened by the gesture, as Lau’s father Melvin said: “I’m grateful that the SBA is recognising our combined efforts to put Singapore on the world map through badminton.

“I will certainly support my son, and hope to see him on that podium one day with me singing Majulah Singapura proudly along with him.”