KUALA LUMPUR: Former world No 1 Datuk Lee Chong Wei was today appointed to the Academy Badminton Malaysia (ABM) Technical Advisory Panel.
The 40-year-old, who retired in June 2019 after being diagnosed with nose cancer, was among seven former internationals that form part of the 14-member panel alongside Roslin Hashim, Ong Ewe Hock, Koo Kien Keat, Tan Boon Heong, Datuk Seri Jalani Sidek and Datuk Cheah Soon Kit.
Making up the panel is BAM president Tan Sri Norza Zakaria who will serve as chairman, National Sports Council director-general Datuk Ahmad Shapawi Ismail, National Sports Institute chief executive officer Ahmad Faedzal Md Ramli, BAM council members Datuk Teoh Teng Chor and Datuk Ng Chin Chai, BAM secretary-general Datuk Kenny Goh and NSI former CEO Datuk Dr Ramlan Abd Aziz.
BAM, in a statement today, said: "The Technical Advisory Panel, serving on a pro-bono basis, will provide additional input, advice, and strategic guidance to the Board of Trustees and Management of PETRONAS Akademi Badminton Malaysia (ABM) with the aim of enhancing player performances for the long-term strategic goal of podium performances at the Olympic Games, multi-sport events and BWF World Tour tournaments.
"Additionally, the Technical Advisory Panel, who will meet every quarterly, will review players' and coaches' performances and where required, propose changes in policies, training programmes and tournament participation in the form of recommendation to the Board of Trustees.
"The panel's first meeting is expected to take place at the end of February 2023."
It will be interesting to see how Chong Wei, in his first post-retirement role, can contribute through his advisory capacity.
Chong Wei was once reportedly to be interested in returning to BAM as a coach but the move did not come to fruition.
With Roslin and Ewe Hock coming on board, their inputs could prove invaluable as the duo have been among the strong critics of BAM.