National Badminton Academy's courts to be ready next month

The national shuttlers will be moving to the National Badminton Academy (ABK) next month when the academy's courts are ready.

Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) acting president Tan Sri Mohamed Al Amin Abdul Majid said Stadium Juara, which was being used, now was taken over by the Malaysian Netball Association.

"The National Badminton Academy should be fully completed by year end but we need more time before it can be handed over due to technical problems. Even though there are several outstanding issues at the academy, the 18 badminton courts there are ready.

"As such, we will start training at the academy in Bukit Kiara next month," he told reporters after chairing a BAM executive council meeting here today.

He said the ABK needed a bit more time as it was required to obtain the certificate of completion.

"We are now asking for the venue to be handed over in stages. We feel the RM30 million academy will be fully commissioned by next June.

"Besides the 18 badminton courts, the academy has 85 rooms, a dinning hall, an auditorium, a gymnasium and so on. ABK which is of international standard, is among the best in the world," he said.

Meanwhile, he said the 2017 Malaysia Open would be held in Kuching, Sarawak in April 2017.

"There were also four other bidders to host the super series tournament, namely Kuala Lumpur; Kedah; Johor and Pahang.

"But we finally chose Kuching duet to Sarawak's better offer," he said. --Bernama