His mission doesn’t just involve scouting players; rather, it’s about discovering champions with exceptional dedication and passion, who are capable of elevating Malaysia’s reputation in badminton – a legacy Rashid, of course, has contributed significantly to building.

The search is being conducted through the reality TV programme “Rashid Mencari Juara” (RMJ), set to air on RTM in August. Rashid, who serves as the principal and adviser, said the series attracted nearly 100 participants from the northern and eastern zones within two days of its launch last month.

“For the northern zone, we first conducted selections on Jan 16, covering Perlis, Penang and Kedah. We then continued in the eastern zone, involving Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang, before proceeding to the central zone, covering Perak, Selangor and the Federal Territory,” the 56-year-old said.

Speaking during the talent scouting and selection session for the RMJ boys’ singles category in Kota Bharu recently, Rashid explained that the selection process was conducted in collaboration with state badminton associations, focusing on players aged 16-17 who meet specific criteria.

He said the final list of qualified participants would be finalised by the end of January, after which 12 players would be shortlisted to undergo a one-month training camp under RMJ in Kuala Lumpur.

“Out of these 12 participants, only four will be selected for private training at the Rashid Sidek Club, where they will be groomed to become world-class badminton players.

“This initiative reflects my personal commitment to elevating Malaysian badminton and producing new talents capable of representing the country on the global stage,” Rashid said.