He said Chong Wei would monitor the athletes’ performances in Tokyo as well as give words of encouragement via online means from here between the day the Olympic games begin on July 23 and until they end on Aug 8.

“We support OCM’s stand to retain him as the CDM because Chong Wei is a big name, one entrenched in the hearts, minds and soul of all Malaysians.

“The management of athletes in Tokyo will be handled by OCM secretary-general Mohd Nazifuddin Najib, who will stay with them at the Games Village,” Reezal said in an audio recording shared with the media today after observing the final preparations of the badminton team at the Akademi Badminton Malaysia in Bukit Kiara.

A team of eight badminton players will carry Malaysia’s challenge at the Tokyo Olympics. They are Lee Zii Jia (men’s singles); Soniia Cheah (women’s singles); Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik (men’s doubles); Chow Mei Kuan-Lee Meng Yean (women’s doubles); and Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying (mixed doubles).

Six players back from Spain test positive for Covid-19

Six of 20 Malaysian players who returned from the Spanish international badminton championships last month have tested positive for Covid-19.

The Badminton Association of Malaysia said the six were asymptomatic and had been placed in a quarantine centre.

“They have not been to the Akademi Badminton Malaysia since their return and have had no interaction with the national players preparing for the Tokyo Olympics. These six players will only check in to the ABM after the Tokyo-bound players have left for Japan,” BAM said.

The national shuttlers bagged three titles at the Spanish championships. S. Kisona, the 2019 SEA Games champion, edged former world junior champion Goh Jin Wei for the women’s singles crown while Eoon Qi Xuan made the semi-finals. Tee Kai Wun won the mixed doubles title with Teoh Mei Xing before partnering Man Wei Chong for the men’s doubles crown.