The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) on Sunday inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Badminton Association of Thailand (BAT) to work together to win gold at the Paris Olympics.
The two-year MOU would see both nations sharing expertise in various aspects including sports science and training of athletes, coaches and officials.
“Today’s ceremony is important for badminton’s development in Malaysia, as we prepare for our ultimate objective of sealing the country’s first ever gold at the Paris Olympics and winning the 2024 Thomas Cup,” said BAM president Norza Zakaria.
Malaysia have yet to taste the Olympics' biggest prize, despite badminton coming close on six occasions with silver medal finishes.
Thailand, on the other hand, have not won any badminton medals at the Olympics, where boxing and weightlifting have contributed nine of their 10 gold medals.
If done right, this MoU would benefit both nations who are on the right track for much-starved success at the biggest sporting spectacle.
Malaysia finally ended a 45-year wait for world champions last month through men’s doubles pair Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, while Thailand also have formidable forces in almost every discipline.
The BAM, meanwhile, are also considering opening their Badminton Academy Malaysia facilities to independent shuttlers.
The national body would deliberate before having a discussion with the independent shuttlers and their coaches in a bid to foster a more competitive environment.
