A Letter to Aspiring Pros: The Honest Truth About the Road to National Level
This page is written like a letter from me, Mr Eric Chuar, to young players and parents around Setapak, Wangsa Maju, Cheras, Kepong and Ampang who are thinking about the road to national level badminton. I want to share the honest truth about training, sacrifice, and the slim chances of making it, so that if you choose this path, you do so with your eyes wide open.
Dear Aspiring Player…
This Is Not Like TV
Dear aspiring player, I know you watch the Malaysia Open or the Olympics and see the bright lights, the roaring crowds, and the glory of standing on the podium. You imagine wearing the national jersey with the Malaysian flag on your chest. It is a beautiful dream, and I respect it.
But I am writing this to tell you about the parts you don’t see on Instagram. The road to becoming a professional badminton player is not paved with likes and medals. It is paved with exhaustion, loneliness, and failure. I am sharing this not to kill your dream, but to help you grow up. If you want to be a national player, you need to understand the real price tag.
The Real Daily Life
6am Starts and Sore Muscles
The life of a badminton athlete in Kuala Lumpur is repetitive. It often starts before the sun rises. You might wake up at 5:30 am to train before school, rushing from the court to the classroom with wet hair and tired legs. After school, while your friends go for bubble tea in Setapak or watch movies in Wangsa Maju, you go back to the hall for another 3 hours of training.
The glamour is non-existent. You will spend hours doing footwork drills without a shuttle. You will do hundreds of multi-shuttle feeds until your lungs burn. Your body will ache almost every day. You will play with taped fingers, strapped ankles, and blisters on your feet. You will travel to small community halls in Cheras or Kepong, not just big arenas, fighting for every point in the heat without air conditioning.
What You Give Up
Sacrifices Nobody Sees
To reach the national level, you must sacrifice your social life. You will miss birthday parties, family gatherings during holidays, and school trips because you have a tournament or training. Your friends might stop inviting you because “you are always training.” It can feel very lonely.
Your family also sacrifices. Your parents spend thousands of Ringgit on court rentals, coaching fees, rackets, stringing, and petrol to drive you around Klang Valley. They sacrifice their weekends to sit in hot halls waiting for your match. You carry the weight of their investment on your shoulders. This is the normal reality for any junior in Malaysia aiming for the top.
The Odds Are Against You
Failure, Non-Selection & Reality
The hardest truth is that most players do not make it. For every Lee Zii Jia, there are thousands of juniors who stopped at district level. You will face failure constantly. You might lose in the first round of MSSM after training for a whole year. You might go for a national selection trial and not see your name on the list. You might get injured just before a major tournament.
The pathway typically moves from school teams to district tournaments (MSSD), then state (MSSS/MSSM), and finally national junior circuits. Only the top few from the entire country enter the national training centre. It is a pyramid, and the space at the top is tiny. Even if you make it to the national squad, career stability is not guaranteed. Injuries or a drop in form can end your career early.
Three Pillars of Success
Body, Mind & Support System
If you are still reading, then you need to know what carries you through. It takes three pillars. First, Body: you need natural speed and coordination, and the robustness to train daily without breaking. Second, Mind: you must love the boring parts of training and have the resilience to bounce back from losses.
Third, and most important, is your Support System. You cannot do this alone. You need parents who support you without crushing pressure, a coach who tells you the truth, and a school that understands your schedule. Even the best player in Setapak or Ampang will fail if one of these pillars collapses.
Always Have a Backup
Honest Odds & Plan B
Because the odds are so slim less than 1% of juniors become career professionals you must have a Plan B. Do not throw away your books. Keep your education going. Develop other skills like communication or sports science.
If you don’t make the national team, badminton is not a waste. It can still open doors to becoming a coach, a sports manager, or just a disciplined, healthy adult. But betting your entire life only on becoming a world champion is a dangerous gamble.
To the Parents
A Note to Moms and Dads
To the parents in Setapak, Wangsa Maju and Gombak: please support your child, but do not force your dream onto them. Understand the cost. Do not measure your love by their ranking. If they lose, they need a hug, not a lecture in the car.
And to the players who might not reach the national team: know that you are still valuable. The discipline you learned, the friends you made, and the strength you built nobody can take that away from you. That is the real victory.
FAQs: Becoming a Pro Player in Malaysia
Common questions from families in Kuala Lumpur about the reality of pursuing a professional badminton career.
How realistic is it to become a professional badminton player in Malaysia?
It is possible but extremely competitive. Thousands of juniors play in schools across Malaysia, but only a handful reach full-time professional level each year. At ST Badminton Academy in Setapak, we encourage dreaming big but also planning realistically. Only the most dedicated, talented, and supported players make it to the top.
At what age should my child start if they want national level?
Most national players start serious training by age 7 to 9. By age 12, they are usually competing in state-level tournaments. However, starting later doesn’t make it impossible, but the road is much steeper. Consistency from a young age helps build the complex skills needed for elite badminton.
What is daily life like for a badminton athlete?
It is not glamorous. It involves early mornings, often 6 am training, followed by school, and then more training in the evening. It means restricted diets, missing social events, and constant physical fatigue. It is a lifestyle of discipline, not just a hobby you do on weekends.
How do we balance school and serious badminton training in Kuala Lumpur?
It requires strict time management and sacrifice. Families in Cheras or Kepong often eat dinner in the car and do homework late at night. We recommend communicating with teachers and finding a training schedule that allows for rest. Burning out from doing too much of both is a real risk.
If I do not reach national team, will all this training be wasted?
Never. The discipline, resilience, and health you build will serve you for life. Many “failed” players become successful coaches, sports managers, or business leaders because of the character they built on the court. The journey itself has immense value, regardless of the destination.
Do I need a Plan B?
Yes, absolutely. Even if you are the best in your state, an injury can end your career in a second. Keep studying. Learn other skills. A Plan B takes the pressure off and makes you a more complete person, which ironically often helps you play better badminton.
Is it better to join a private academy or stick with school training?
School training is a good start, but usually not enough for national level. Private academies like ST Badminton Academy provide the intense, structured, daily training required. We also offer exposure to higher-level sparring partners which is crucial for growth.
What sacrifices will my family have to make?
Financial cost is one; emotional support is another. Weekends will be spent in sports halls. Vacations might be cancelled for tournaments. It requires a whole-family commitment. Parents in KL need to be prepared for the logistical and emotional demands of raising an athlete.
How can I start the journey in Setapak?
Start by joining a structured training program that emphasizes basics and discipline. Contact ST Badminton Academy in Setapak. We can assess your current level and give you an honest roadmap of what lies ahead, helping you take the first real steps.
The Reality of the Pro Journey at ST Badminton Academy Malaysia
The Hard Facts of the Journey
If you are serious about this path, you need to be comfortable with these numbers. They are not meant to discourage you, but to prepare you for the scale of the challenge ahead. Success at the national level requires extraordinary commitment.
| Aspect | The Fantasy (Social Media View) | The Reality (National Level Pathway) |
|---|---|---|
| Morning Routine | Waking up excited, ready to win. | 5am alarm, sore body, dark mornings, rushing to school. |
| Training Focus | Cool trick shots and winning smashes. | Boring repetition, footwork drills, fitness testing, sweat. |
| Social Life | Famous friends and parties. | Missing birthdays, saying "no" to hangouts, early bedtime. |
| Travel | Business class flights and nice hotels. | Long bus rides, budget hotels, laundry in the sink. |
| Failure | A small setback before a big win. | Constant losses, first-round exits, fighting to qualify. |
If You Still Choose This Road, Do It With Clear Eyes
The road to national level is hard, long, and uncertain. But if, after reading all this, you still want to chase it, then do it with a strong heart. Train seriously, be kind to yourself when you lose, and remember: badminton is a beautiful part of your life, but it is not your whole life. From, Coach Eric.
