Malaysia’s 20-Year Asian Games Gold Drought Sparks Call for BAM Rethink

Malaysia’s wait for an Asian Games badminton gold has now stretched to 20 years, prompting former national great Datuk Razif Sidek to call for lessons to be learned from the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 campaign.

Malaysia ended the badminton competition with just one medal — a bronze from Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah in the women’s doubles — matching the country’s one-medal return from the previous Asian Games.

Razif questioned some of the decisions made before the tournament, particularly the use of newly formed combinations. He highlighted Aaron Chia-Tee Kai Wun, whose lack of seeding contributed to an early meeting with world No. 1 pair Kim Won-ho-Seo Seung-jae.

He believes BAM should take the campaign as a lesson when planning partnerships and seeding strategy for future major tournaments.

Malaysia’s last Asian Games badminton gold came through Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong in the men’s doubles at Doha 2006.

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