KUALA LUMPUR: Amid reports of some senior players leaving the BA of Malaysia (BAM), Aaron Chia has pledged that he and his men's doubles partner, Soh Wooi Yik, will remain with the national body.
The world No. 3 are grateful to BAM for supporting them in becoming world-beaters.
They have been among the top-performing national shuttlers, with their best achievement being the world title in 2022.
Additionally, they are two-time Olympic bronze medallists, having secured their latest medal at the recently concluded Paris Games.
During the post-Olympics press conference on Tuesday, Aaron-Wooi Yik were asked whether remaining with BAM would help them achieve their future goals.
Aaron responded: "Our achievements in the past few years clearly demonstrate BAM's contribution.
"If you're asking this question, I'd say that if we stay with BAM, we will definitely be able to deliver significant results, although I'm not certain to what extent."
At 27 and 26, respectively, Aaron and Wooi Yik are at a crossroads in their careers, with turning professional seen as a potential avenue for a fresh approach.
Given their stature and credentials, they should have no difficulty attracting sponsors to support their pursuit of a coveted Olympic gold at Los Angeles 2028.
BAM currently faces a challenge in retaining their second-ranked men's pair, Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani, following reports that the duo have decided to leave BAM and turn professional.
The world No. 13's status will only be known after the BAM Council meeting later this month, but signs point towards the likelihood of their release being granted.
In recent years, BAM has shown a tendency to release senior players in their late 20s or early 30s who are still performing at a high level, as retaining them would come at a high cost.
However, the situation is different for top players like Aaron-Wooi Yik, whom BAM would like to keep due to their performance and commercial value.
While BAM is not primarily profit-driven, it must generate income from corporate sponsorships to fund national team operations and player development.