Sunday, May 6, 2007

The Roslin bummer

Looks like BAM's apparently human error is now producing headaches.

Refer to my entry BAM Bummed

Now Roslin decides not to sue BAM, after meeting with our Sports Minister, Datuk Azalina. Fine fine.

And these are the compensations claimed by Roslin, some which I agree, and some just do not make sense. Referring to the BAM Bummed entry, I did support the move to ask for monetary compensation but this has gone too far. Have a look (source: The Star)

Claims:

  • Prize money for the men’s singles champion in the Singapore and Indonesian Opens amounting to US$32,000.
  • Nusa Mahsuri’s cash incentive of RM5,000 for winning the Singapore andIndonesian Opens

(Ok, the first two points may be acceptable. Since competing in tournaments is his rice bowl, he has the right to claim for the prize winner's amout, IF he happens to produce miracle)

  • RM70,000 penalty fee imposed by sponsors for his failure to compete in Singapore and Indonesian Opens without valid reasons.

(This is somewhat acceptable. But I'm not sure about the logic of the amount. Is it appropriate? Is it too much or too little?)

  • The BAM to bear the cost for all his trips to the tournaments that offer Olympic qualifying points (including flight and accommodation).

(This is INSANE!! Roslin is smart in taking advantage of BAM's mistake but claiming the cost of him for future tournaments? Man, he is seriously trying to gain extra pocket money. )

  • A place in the squad for the World Championships which will be held at Kuala Lumpur’s Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalil from Aug 13-19.

(Come one. Be like Taufik, then only whatever claims you make will be somewhat acceptable. But you are not. Being a world number 1, seeded 1 in one of the previous World Championships, practising in the wee hours to prepare, but failed in the first round to an unknown player eventually. Reason : Fever. WTF!)

(I understand that you are desperately trying to go for this year's WC. I understand your frustration. But to straight away demand this? My goodness. I'm sure other players like Sairul, Lee Tsuen Seng will not be happy too. )

(Note: The BAM spend an average of RM2,500 to RM6,000 per player for an international tournament. It varies depending on the venue of the tournament. Taking into account the above, Roslin’s demands in cash and kind is around RM300,000. )

Still on the last point. I seriously do not know how BAM is going to handle that. Even KLRC, the club where Lee Tsuen Seng is training, starts to speak up on that last demand.

From The Star:

KLBA: Don't entertain Roslin demand

PETALING JAYA: Shuttler Mohd Roslin Hashim’s demand for the third men's singles slot in the World Championships should not be entertained, says Kuala Lumpur Badminton Association (KLBA) secretary Mohamed Abdullah.

The KLBA have no problems with Roslin asking for monetary compensation from the BAM (Badminton Association of Malaysia) but it is not right to ask for a place in the squad for the world meet (at Putra Stadium in Kuala Lumpur from Aug 13-19),” said Mohamed.

Mohamed said that Roslin should not take away the right of other players, who had qualified for the world meet on merit. Based on the May 3 world rankings used to determine the qualifiers for the world meet, Malaysia can send three players if all are ranked in the top-24 bracket. The eligible players are the top three shuttlers Lee Chong Wei (No 5), Mohd Hafiz Hashim (No 9) and KLRC Bhd’s Lee Tsuen Seng (No 16). The others in the top 24 standings are Roslin (18), Sairul Amar Ayob (21st) and Yeoh Kay Bin (24th). The BAM will announce the squad before the final deadline on June 25.

“Tsuen Seng is our player (KLBA). He has earned a spot for the world meet. It is not right for someone else to claim that they have the right to go. We hope a fair decision will be made,”added Mohamed.



See. Now the trouble is here again. Fighting for the third slow in the World Championship. None of this would have happened if BAM did not omit Roslin's name in the just completed Singapore Open and next, Indonesian Open. Speaking of Singapore Open, I'll blog about it in the next entry.

Meanwhile, good luck to Roslin, BAM, and KLRC.