By FRED LEONG

KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Badminton Association (SBA) is confident of giving a minimum of two gold medals from badminton when Sabah hosts the 9th Malaysia Games (Sukma) from Sept 5-14 for the first time.

“However, if the shuttlers are able to contribute three gold medals in the biennial games, it would be a bonus to Sabah,” said SBA president Datuk Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan yesterday.

Jeffrey was speaking to reporters at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport before boarding for Kuala Lumpur enroute to Manchester, England, where he is leading the national badminton squad as the team manager for the Commonwealth Games from July 25-Aug 4.

He also said that he had requested SBA’s Sukma organising committee chairman for badminton Maijol Mahap to constantly monitor the players’ training programmes while he is away.

“We want to ensure that they undergo tough and systematic training during these crucial remaining days (47 days left) before the Games,” Jeffrey said.

The badminton team will join the remaining teams in a State centralised training camp from Aug 22 until the Games starts.

Meanwhile, SBA vice-president Juprin Adamal described Jeffrey’s appointment as the Malaysian badminton team manager for the Commonwealth Games as a history of sort, and at the same time a great honour to the State.

He thanked the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) for appointing Jeffery to the prestigious Games to guide the national shuttlers.

This is the first time that a Sabah official has been appointed as a team manager to lead the Malaysian team for the Commonwealth Games.