The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) decided that only Category A players would be competing at the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia from August 18 to September 2.

BAM president Norza Zakaria said the decision of not sending Category B players to the Asian Games was because it is not a platform for exposure and the sport has a very high standard in Asia.

"The Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) has approved 10 men's and four women's players with four coaches and a manager under Category A.

"The BAM will appeal for six more players and under Category B to be included under Category A as well as two more coaches.

"If the appeal is rejected, the BAM will not send players under Category B as the OCM’s Category A guide is only for the top four players in Asia.

"The players selected must have the potential to win medals," he told reporters after chairing the Coaching and Training Committee (C&T) meeting at Academy Badminton Malaysia (ABM) in Bukit Kiara on Thursday.

The list of Category A players approved by the OCM were Lee Chong Wei, Lee Zii Jia, Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin, Leong Jun Hao, Tan Wee Kiong-Goh V Shem, Teo Ee Yi-Ong Yew Sin, Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying, Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai, and Chow Mei Kuan-Lee Meng Yean.

The BAM's Category B players proposed to the OCM included Soniia Cheah, Goh Jin Wei, Lee Ying Ying, S. Kisona and one more women’s doubles pair.

On the same day, Norza announced that he relinquished his C&T Committee chairman post and would be succeeded by BAM secretary-general Ng Chin Chai.

He had held the post for three years but took the decision to focus on Academy Badminton Malaysia and step up on the BAM's new sponsor drive.

"The BAM has appointed Datuk Ng Chin Chai as the new C&T chairman as he has the experience to manage the committee.

"I told him that he should continue a robust way of looking at the C&T and he should be more hands-on with the coaches and players," said Norza.