Malaysian Badminton Player Receives Death Threats After Early Exit in Indonesia
Threats Follow First-Round Exit In Jakarta
Malaysian men’s doubles badminton player Ong Yew Sin has become the latest national athlete to face online abuse after he and partner Teo Ee Yi were eliminated in the first round of the Indonesia Masters tournament in Jakarta.
The pair were knocked out on Tuesday, 20 January, after losing 18–21, 15–21 to Chinese Taipei’s Lee Jhe-huei and Yang Po-hsuan at Istora Senayan.
Violent Messages Shared On Social Media
Following the defeat, Ong shared screenshots on social media showing threatening messages he received on Instagram. One message, sent from an account named jaychen73, demanded that the Malaysian pair retire from professional badminton.
“You all should just retire. What I say, I will do everything I can to force you to retire,” the message read.
The threats escalated further, warning of physical violence if the pair continued to lose matches, including a message stating, “I will bring a knife and slash Ee Yi’s hand, forcing you to either change partners or retire.”
Cyber Abuse Not A New Issue For National Players
The online attack against Ong and Teo is not an isolated case. Malaysian badminton players have increasingly become targets of cyberbullying and threats following tournament defeats, particularly over the past year.
In October last year, the Badminton Association of Malaysia said it would monitor online abuse directed at national shuttlers after several players were harassed following their performances in Europe.
Among those previously targeted were Malaysia’s top men’s doubles pair Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik, mixed doubles duo Jimmy Wong and Lai Pei Jing, as well as former world champion Goh V Shem, who now competes with South Korea’s Choi Sol-gyu.
Gambling Concerns Cast A Shadow Over The Sport
The severity of the threats has once again raised concerns over the role of illegal gambling in badminton, particularly in regions where sports betting remains widespread. Frustrated bettors are often believed to lash out at players following unexpected losses.
However, authorities have not confirmed any direct link between the threats made against Ong and Teo and gambling activity.
Separately, the Badminton World Federation suspended former Malaysian player Liew Daren for 12 months in December 2024 for betting violations, including placing bets on badminton matches during the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. The case highlighted the sport’s ongoing struggle with gambling-related issues.
Growing Calls For Stronger Protection
The latest incident has reignited calls for stronger action to protect athletes from online threats and harassment. Many believe that while criticism is part of competitive sport, threats of violence cross a dangerous line and should be treated as criminal offences.
As Ong Yew Sin’s case gains international attention, it underscores the increasing pressure faced by professional athletes not just on court, but online as well.
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