The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) will now have two less players to work with and train under its wing after men’s badminton doubles pair Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin Mohd Rumsani decided to go down their own professional path.
According to BuletinTV3, this means that Sze Fei-Izzuddin will no longer take part in tournaments as players under BAM, but as independent players, similar to what World No. 6 Lee Zii Jia did back in 2022.
Sze Fei-Izzuddin’s BAM departure confirmed
When asked about the the pair’s departure from BAM, Malaysian Badminton Academy (ABM) director of coaching, Rexy Mainaky didn’t dismiss the news and added that he will hold a special press conference regarding the national squad’s performance today.
He also added that he cannot “comment further” as he is waiting for updates from the management and other discussions.
Sze Fei-Izzuddin were first paired up in 2016 by then head coach Cheah Soon Kit and stuck together until January 2023, making them the longest men’s doubles partnerships to remain globally.
Throughout their partnership, Sze Fei-Izzuddin won two Super 300 titles, including the German Open in 2022.
Following their split, the duo went on their separate ways until they were reunited six months later.
Pros and cons of going independent
With them bidding farewell to BAM, Sze Fei-Izzuddin will now have to navigate through the uncertainties and challenges that come by becoming independent players.
On the upsides, the pair will now have more autonomy when it comes to choosing which tournaments to participate, their sponsors, and training regimes.
They will also have the chance to snag lucrative sponsorship deals from various sponsors that offer way more than what BAM currently offers.
As for the downsides, Sze Fei-Izzuddin will no longer enjoy the support system provided by BAM, such as coaching, medical care, and training facilities, which may negatively affect their overall performance.
What do you think of the pair’s decision to leave BAM? Share with us in the comments!
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