Independent players now have the option to attend weekly matchplay sessions at PETRONAS ABM after the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) announced plans to open their doors to the professional shuttlers.

As sparring sessions are a critical and necessary component in players' training, BAM feels these joint sessions will provide mutual benefits to the proactive engines of the national team - the senior squad and independent shuttlers.

These sessions will also help enhance the camaraderie between players and officials particularly when they represent the country in team competitions.

BAM has proposed that these sessions will take place on Wednesday mornings for singles and doubles. There will be a second session for doubles players on Fridays.

Players in the BWF Top 50 World Ranking for singles and Top 30 in doubles will be eligible to attend the sessions while the top five Malaysian players may also be considered. Coaches will be allowed to accompany them on court.

Independent players keen to attend must contact the respective Coaching Directors by the Monday of the week if they intend to train at ABM.

BAM looks forward to the independent players taking up the offer to train at the national badminton centre of excellence in Bukit Kiara.