{
  "id": 13457866,
  "title": "Sports grant scheme can help develop next generation, says BAM",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/10/sports-grant-scheme-can-help-develop-next-generation-says-bam",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-10T15:26:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/highlight/2026/10/10/sports-grant-scheme-can-help-develop-next-generation-says-bam"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) believes the RM30 million sports matching grant scheme introduced in the 2027 budget will be instrumental in developing future generations of badminton players in Malaysia. BAM president Tengku Zafrul Aziz highlighted that the grant would provide more competitive opportunities for players, enabling them to test their skills against stronger adversaries and gain valuable experience prior to competing on the international stage. He emphasized the importance of such exposure to prevent over-reliance on a limited number of established star players and to build a robust system for nurturing the next generation of athletes.\n\nTengku Zafrul stressed the need for consistent talent development, quality coaching, and comprehensive sports science support to ensure a steady pipeline of capable players when key players retire. He also noted that while the increase in sports funding at the school level was encouraging, a strong development pathway was crucial to prevent promising talent from being overlooked. The national badminton team's preparation for the 2027 SEA Games remains a priority, with the 2027 federal budget allocating RM460 million for national sports development and RM240 million for the preparation of the 2027 SEA Games and Asean Para Games.",
  "summary": "Badminton chief Tengku Zafrul Aziz said the grant initiative would create a competitive platform for domestic tournaments, allowing local players to gain experience before progressing to the international stage.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Sports grant scheme can help develop next generation, says BAM",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/10/sports-grant-scheme-can-help-develop-next-generation-says-bam-13458917",
        "published": "2026-10-10T15:26:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}