Lee Chong Wei calls out ‘pampered’ shuttlers over big salary demands

It had to be said — and the ‘smash’ was even more meaningful coming from a former world No. 1 shuttler who has seen it all.

Datuk Lee Chong Wei took a swipe at Malaysian athletes who demand high salaries from the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM).

When met at the Youth and Sports Ministry’s Aidilfitri Open House on April 21 in Kuala Lumpur, Lee told the media: “I’m not saying shuttlers cannot ask for high salaries, can … but what is important is that they must first prove themselves (in terms of performance). They must be committed and contribute to the association.”

“These days I always say that our (Malaysian) shuttlers are pampered, but if they are committed, no matter how much (salary) they ask for, the association (BAM) will try to assist.”

That’s all that needed to be said. It is an open secret that Malaysian shuttlers are demanding big bucks — to the tune of over RM1 million a year. If they don’t get their way, they have apparently threatened to pull out from BAM and turn independent.

Officials aren’t happy about such diva-like attitudes, especially from players who have yet to net any major titles. But they do not have the guts to air their views in public. Former players secretly admire Lee’s courage. But they too, prefer to keep mum.

And the politicians? They fear the online backlash that could hurt their image ahead of party polls and the general election.

Lee, too, has faced such ‘attacks’. Some have labelled him a BAM spokesman who benefited handsomely from the national body during his playing days. Others say he’s afraid today’s shuttlers will overshadow his past achievements.

Having covered Lee closely throughout his career, he’s not one to be easily cowed by such comments. He proved his worth by being world No. 1 for 348 weeks, winning three Olympic silver medals (2008, 2012, 2016), four All England titles (2010, 2011, 2014, 2017), and finishing runner-up at the World Championships thrice (2011, 2013, 2015).

Lee, who had his fair share of issues with BAM, also had several opportunities to leave the national body. But he didn’t — because he believed it was the national structure that groomed him and turned him into a world-beater. Others felt he was simply reaping the benefits that one wouldn’t obtain by going solo.

Lee has always maintained that he wishes to see someone do better than him — by winning an Olympic gold medal. He believes that would show real progress in the sport.

But there will always be those who naively see any form of constructive criticism — including from Lee — as an attack, and nothing more.

Athletes should be rewarded based on calibre and achievements. Accolades and incentives will come naturally.

If athletes believe they are better off outside the national stable, then by all means, leave. The 2022 fiasco involving Lee Zii Jia’s departure from BAM — which saw then prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob stepping in — was nothing but an unnecessary drama that could have been avoided if cooler heads and logic, especially among BAM officials, had prevailed.

Perhaps the diplomatic former players, officials, and politicians should thank Lee for speaking up.

Here’s hoping that Lee — and likeminded souls who remain passionate about badminton — continue to voice their views to spark discourse and compel stakeholders to improve the sport. The ultimate goal is to see Malaysian badminton and its players progress further.

The last thing we need is a generation of ‘popular’ athletes who are champions in ‘likes’ and ‘shares’ — but little else.