FOR the second consecutive year, Senheng Electric (KL) Sdn Bhd and Samsung Malaysia Electronics Sdn Bhd are joining forces as title sponsors of the Senheng-Samsung Junior Badminton Championship.
Both companies are raising the bar in this year’s tournament, aiming to attract double the number of youngsters from 2010 to achieve a Malaysia Book of Records feat.
From Dec 2 to Dec 4, approximately 3,000 aspiring badminton players will take part in the championship at Lee Chong Wei Sports Arena.
Established last year, the Senheng-Samsung Junior Badminton Champ-ionship seeks to identify the next generation of professional players who will recapture Malaysia’s badminton glory.
Talent seeker: Soon Kit was officially appointed as the chief coach of Looi Badminton Academy. With him are (from left) Kim Heng, Looi Badminton Academy president Wong Wei Choy and Jae-hoon. To this end, former national player and doubles coach Cheah Soon Kit has been appointed as the chief coach at the Looi Badminton Academy, which is now formally set up at Lee Chong Wei Sports Arena.
In conjunction with the junior tournament, two new challenge trophies have been added to the programme: the Malaysia Consumer Electronics Cup (MCE Cup) and the Pro-Am challenge. The inaugural Pro-Am tournament will be by invitation, pairing corporate executives with Malaysia’s national and professional badminton players.
As in the first year, 10 players will emerge from the three-day tournament to receive the Senheng-Samsung Badminton Talent Scholarship for a badminton training programme by the Looi Badminton Academy.
Speaking of the 2011 tournament, Lim Kim Heng, founder and managing director of Senheng Electric (KL), said: “We’re delighted to work with Samsung Malaysia Electronics again to present deserving young athletes a chance to realise their true potential. We at Senheng have always been a true supporter of those who want to realise their dreams, and what better way to channel that than through badminton, a Malaysian sport accepted and loved by all. We know and see that sport can be a great unifier, and we sincerely hope that our contribution will break down barriers to achieving great things as a nation.”
Samsung Malaysia Electronics managing director Kwon Jae-hoon, said: “We know that building winners requires deep dedication and a burning desire to be the best. It is the same for product innovation or sporting excellence. To be recognised as the leader and the best in one’s field is the ultimate prize. It is with this in mind that Samsung is committed to continuing our role in the Senheng-Samsung Junior Badminton Championship, an ideal vehicle to identify Malaysia’s next generation of badminton players. We are honoured to be part of Malaysia’s sporting tradition that has produced outstanding badminton players over the years.”
In addition to these training programmes, the competition will continue to offer prizes valued at RM100,000, including the Prestigious SS Star Awards, to recognise players and coaches with a track record of success in Malaysian badminton. The awards include the Most Promising Sportsman Award, Sportsman of the Year, Coach of the Year, and the Golden Academy Awards.
The 3,000 aspiring badminton players will pit their skills against each other over three days to win scholarships, a training progamme, as well as cash and equipment, across six categories — Under-11, Under-13, Under-15, Under-17 and Under-21.
Supported by the Youth and Sports Ministry, 1Belia Malaysia, Badminton Association of Malaysia and Selangor Badminton Association, the tournament introduces two new challenges this year with a view to encourage more people to take interest in sports in general, and badminton in particular.
Malaysia’s first badminton Pro-Am Challenge will pair corporate executives with Malaysia’s national players, to make up 16 pairs.
By process of elimination, the losing doubles teams will donate RM3,000 each to raise funds to the SS Junior Badminton Scholarship, totalling RM45,000, which will go towards covering the cost of the students’ academic and training programmes.
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