MIRI: The Miri Badminton Association (MBA) has fired the starting shot for a more aggressive development push as its president, Datuk Dr Ripin Lamat, outlined a clear and ambitious roadmap during the opening of the Miri Badminton Association Closed Amateur Badminton Championship 2025.
This year’s championship drew 14 teams, 16 mixed doubles pairs, and 12 women’s doubles pairs, signalling strong community interest.
Yet the real headline was the association’s renewed direction, with Ripin stressing that the event marks the first initiative under the new MBA term and sets the tone for a more structured year ahead.
He said MBA is gearing up for a stronger 2026 calendar focused on developing players at every level.
The association aims to nurture grassroots juniors, boost senior and amateur talent, and build a more competitive badminton culture across Miri.
The priority is to raise the city’s sporting standards and close the gap with leading badminton districts across the region.
A key highlight is the proposed Miri Open in April 2026, which MBA intends to position as its flagship event.
With several months to prepare, the association expects the tournament to draw wider participation and give local players a higher level of competition.
MBA is also preparing a suite of talent-building programmes.
Forum 2.0 will return with badminton icons who will share technical insights and real-world experience to guide young athletes and coaches.
A dedicated junior tournament is planned to give rising players an arena that mirrors state-level competitiveness.
To deepen engagement at the club level, MBA will introduce monthly sparring sessions that are open to all clubs and independent players.
These sessions will provide continuous match exposure and encourage a stronger training culture.
The association will also roll out an inter-club competition to build unity and sustained competitive momentum throughout the year.
Ripin emphasised that every initiative is aligned with a single mission: strengthening Miri’s badminton ecosystem and fostering an environment where players and clubs grow together.
MBA will also intensify its talent identification efforts, targeting promising athletes to represent Miri at SUKMA, SUKSAR, the Borneo Games and the SBA President Cup.
He noted that with Sarawak set to co-host the 2027 SEA Games, MBA hopes to see Miri-trained shuttlers qualify for the national squad.
With a clear strategic direction and a full slate of programmes for 2026, the association is positioning badminton as one of Miri’s most dynamic sporting pillars.
