{
  "id": 6902463,
  "title": "BAM considers special incentive for Asian Games gold",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/12/bam-considers-special-incentive-for-asian-games-gold-6902463",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-12T09:31:25.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2026/09/12/bam-considers-special-incentive-for-asian-games-gold"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) is contemplating a special incentive for athletes in order to alleviate the nation's 20-year drought in Asian Games badminton gold medals. The last time Malaysia claimed a badminton gold at the Asian Games was in 2006, when Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong secured victory in the men's doubles at the event held in Doha, Qatar. BAM President Tengku Zafrul Aziz expressed surprise at the extended wait, stating that the last 20 years seemed like an eternity. The proposal for a special incentive, which would complement the government's national sports incentive scheme (Shakam), is being evaluated in light of BAM's financial viability and its sponsors' backing. It is anticipated that discussions surrounding the matter will take place with BAM's sponsors, as they have historically contributed incentives.",
  "summary": "The last time Malaysia won a badminton title at the event was in Doha, Qatar, 20 years ago.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "BAM considers special incentive for Asian Games gold",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/12/bam-considers-special-incentive-for-asian-games-gold",
        "published": "2026-09-12T09:31:25.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Indian Express",
        "title": "Vedaant Madhavan is not ‘looking to be in the spotlight’ as he gears up for Asian Games",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/13/vedaant-madhavan-is-not-looking-to-be-in-the-spotlight-as-he-gears-up",
        "published": "2026-09-13T05:28:23.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Yonhap News",
        "title": "(Asiad) N. Korea to begin Asian Games campaign with women's football match",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/13/asiad-n-korea-to-begin-asian-games-campaign-with-womens-football-match",
        "published": "2026-09-13T09:01:09.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}