Year in, year out, the media continue to highlight the same sad story of Malaysian badminton. And for 2021, it is no different.
They have everything. A state of the art training facility at Academy Badminton Malaysia (ABM), a star-studded coaching lineup that would even put the backroom staff of mighty Indonesia or China to shame, a super support service team of physiotherapists, psychologists and masseurs that others can only dream of.
Not to mention the millions of ringgit pumped in yearly for development programmes, participation in tournaments and players' allowances, among other expenditure.
What do we get in return? Little success but plenty of letdowns.
Sure, Lee Zii Jia won the All England early this year, but it did little to erase the bitter taste of disappointment in the other major events that followed.
Sadly, 2021 will be remembered as the year that Malaysian badminton hangs its head in shame, after the country has been outshone by its little southern neighbour.
Singapore now boast of a world champion in badminton, something Malaysia have failed to achieve over the past six decades.
The city-state has now joined an elite club, becoming only the third Southeast Asian country, after Indonesia and Thailand, to produce a world champion in badminton.
And we can forget all pretence of Loh Kean Yew being "from" Malaysia, when the manner in which the 24-year-old Penang-born kissed the Singapore flag on his shirt after each victory in Huelva, was a smash to our faces.
While I agree with former international Roslin Hashim that Kean Yew's success story is a slap to us, I do not agree that the fault lies entirely with the BA of Malaysia (BAM).
While the rot must stop from the top, and heads must roll following our pathetic display on the international front, what about the players and the A-list coaches?
Will Zii Jia, who prefers to hold court with radio station interviews and "Instagram Lives", be held accountable for his poor showing and decision-making?
Take note that Timesport did report earlier that Malaysia were presented with a once-in-100 years opportunity to end their wait for a world title after several big names, including world No 2 Kento Momota of Japan, China's 2016 Olympic champion Chen Long and Shi Yuqi, and the entire Indonesian national team skipped the World Championships in Huelva due to Covid concerns and injuries.
But the Malaysian shuttlers blew it, this once in a lifetime opportunity. But our neighbours Singapore and Thailand never let slip the chance. Thais Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai duly grabbed the world mixed doubles crown.
An incident last month exposed the ugly state of affairs in the national badminton camp.
Players, who feel entitled, blamed the national body for their failures in qualifying for certain tournaments. While it's easy to point the finger at someone else, when will our players ever take responsibility for their own failures? It's always someone else's fault, not theirs.
On top of that, washing your dirty linen in public while the national body try to protect you, only serves to irk badminton fans even more.
As a national body, BAM have a huge responsibility to keep everybody in check, but indulging big headed players is not one of them.
What about the high-earning coaches? When will they be held accountable? They easily earn five to six times more than many Malaysians, but hide behind their players. And yet permanent residency (PR) status is given to them.
Why did Zii Jia play in four back-to-back tournaments, including the "insignificant" Hylo Open in November when it is BAM's policy to not allow players to play in more than two back-to-back tournaments?
Who is to be blamed for Zii Jia's back injury and failure to maintain his form?
BAM coaching director Wong Choong Hann admitted that it was a mistake to allow Zii Jia to play in the Hylo Open in Saarbrücken, Germany, but who was the one that advised him? Was it one of the coaches who reports to Choong Hann or was it Zii Jia himself?
Yes, there were glimpses of hope when the national team reached the Sudirman Cup semi-finals in Vantaa, Finland in October or when women's doubles Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah won the Swiss Open in March, but Malaysia is wounded right now, and badly.
It's time to do away with the flashy press conferences, announcement of numerous blueprints or award ceremonies for players who are not appreciative of their blessings.
As taxpayers, we demand accountability and we demand results, starting with the majors next year.
With the arrival of Indonesian badminton legend Rexy Mainaky to assist Choong Hann, there should be no more excuses.
For now, swallow that bitter pill and accept that Singapore have a badminton world champion, and all we have are cry babies.
As long as this sort of mentality persists, Malaysian sports will head nowhere.