Joo Ven and Darren walk out of BJSS to pursue badminton career

By RAJES PAUL

The Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) should be the platform for youngsters to fulfil their sporting ambitions but for two promising shuttlers – Soong Joo Ven and Darren Isaac Devadass – it was not the case.

Photo : Alex van Zaanen

Instead, the two walked out of BJSS, just months before their Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) exams, because they want to pursue their badminton careers.

The school wanted the two boys to compete in the Asean Schools Championships from June 28-July 6 in Indonesia instead of the more important Asian Junior Championships from June 30-July 7 in South Korea.

As the tournament dates clash, the boys asked the school, through the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM), permission to play in the Asian Junior meet. But BJSS, which come under the jurisdiction of the Education Ministry’s sports department, told the duo that they must play in the Asean meet.



The Asian Junior meet is a more competitive event and is, without doubt, a greater platform for the boys to strut their stuff as the top juniors from China, South Korea, Indonesia are taking part.

Last year, Zulfadli Zulkifli became Malaysia’s first Asian Junior champion and top junior singles shuttler Joo Ven has shown his potential in following in Zulfadli’s footsteps going by his recent win in several international tournaments, including the Thailand International.

Bluntly put, the ongoing scenario is like asking world No. 1 Lee Chong Wei to compete in the Penang Open instead of the Olympic Games.

The selection of the team for the Asean Schools is conducted by the Ministry of Education’s sport department while the team for the Asian Junior meet is done by BAM. Last year, when both the junior events had clashed, the Ministry and BAM came to a compromise. The best two players in every event from the school had competed in the Asian meet while the others went for the Asean Schools but this time, the school had demanded for the country’s best junior players.

Yesterday, both Joo Ven and Darren’s parents – Soong Nyen Yew and A. Victoria – said that they were left with no choice but to take their children out of the school so that they could compete in the Asian Junior meet.

Nyen Yew said that even the BAM could not help because it did not fall under their jurisdiction.

“As a parent, I was left with no choice but to choose between the school or the country. Of course, I chose the country. My son’s ambition is to represent Malaysia in major events and win honours for the country and naturally, he was looking forward to competing in the Asian Junior meet – which is the biggest event for a junior player,” said Nyen Yew, who is also the committee member of the BJSS Teacher-Parent body.

“How can we send the best players to the Asean Schools and the second stringers to the Asian Junior? I met up with BJSS principal Datuk Marina (Chin) and even wrote an official letter. She told me to forward it to the Ministry’s sports department director Ee Hong but there was no response. My son was still asked to play in the Asean Schools meet. If he does not play the Asean meet, he cannot play in the Asian Juniors.

“This is not acceptable. So, I had to take him out of the school last week so that he can represent Malaysia at the Asian Junior.

“Now, Joo Ven is home-tutor bound and I send him for tuition. This change is not easy especially just months before the SPM. It has changed my life too. In BJSS, he was provided with everything, now I have to make sure that he gets the proper nutrition too. For now, I have no other options,” said Nyen Yew.

Victoria, Darren’s mother also echoed the same sentiment.

“I was left with no choice but to remove Darren from the school. I had a heart to heart talk with Marina but nothing has come out of it. Now, I am in a dilemma as far as Isaac’s studies is concerned. I have to look for other options. But as far as his badminton career is concerned, this is the best decision for us,” she added.

Courtesy of The Star