THE BA of Malaysia's (BAM) plan to host back-to-back tournaments next year received a boost after the government agreed to reopen the sports and recreational sector on Jan 1.
BAM had earlier expressed their interest to host the Malaysia Masters and Malaysia Open in a safe bubble environment between March and April next year.
On Friday, Senior Defence Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said local sports tournaments in Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO) areas were allowed with an audience capacity of 10 per cent or a maximum of 4,000 people.
For areas placed under the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO), individual and team-based sports and recreational activities for training and tournaments, both indoor and outdoor, are allowed without spectators.
"This is definitely good news for us. It will help us plan well for a very important year ahead," said BAM secretary general Datuk Kenny Goh yesterday.
"As for the Malaysia Masters and Malaysia Open, we will discuss further with the Badminton World Federation as they are still in talks with the various member associations on the respective standard operating procedures and travel policies.
"On our part, we will look into the finer details of our government's SOPs because we do not want to breach any guidelines".
Based on Ismail's announcement, participants from high-risk countries are not allowed into the country unless authorised by the Immigration Department.
He said the participation of Malaysian athletes in international tournaments, especially in high-risk countries, is also subject to permission from the Immigration Department.
Apart from having to postpone the Malaysia Open and other local tournaments this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, BAM also decided to skip a couple of tournaments in Europe.
The decision was made after the BWF postponed the Thomas and Uber Cup Finals to next year due to poor participation from top countries.
Meanwhile, Kenny shared that the national elite squad are in high spirits ahead of next month's Asian leg of the World Tour in Bangkok.
The Yonex Thailand Open, the Toyota Thailand Open and the BWF World Tour Finals will be the first series of tournaments to be played in a safety bubble on Jan 12-31.