The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) will trim the national squad next year by dropping five coaches and 12 players.

The BAM decided to reduce the number of players from 60 to 48 and the coaches from 17 to 12 after Wednesday's Coaching and Training committee (C&T) meeting.

C&T chairman Ng Chin Chai did not disclose the names of the five coaches but stressed that they had been informed.

"The reduction is based on the BAM's new policy. I hope this will lead to us forming a better team in the future.

"The BAM will act more firmly to ensure every Key Performance Indicator (KPI) set for the players and coaches is achieved," he said after chairing the C&T meeting at the Academy Badminton Malaysia (ABM) in Bukit Kiara.

He said the full list of players and coaches for the new season would be decided at the end of next January.

Ng did not rule out the possibility of absorbing players from outside the BAM who excelled in national-level championships.

He also announced a list of players who decided to leave the national squad for various reasons, including injuries and to turn professionals.

They were Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin (men’s singles), Woon Khe Wei (women’s singles) as well as Lee Zii Yii, Goh Yea Ching and Tan Sueh Jeou (women’s doubles).