Malaysia will continue to participate in the French Open badminton tournament despite recent unrest in France. The tournament, which begins this week at the Arena Grand Paris, features 14 Malaysian entries, including the women’s doubles pair Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah, who recently secured a title at the Denmark Open.

Datuk Kenny Goh, secretary of the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM), confirmed that no Malaysian players have withdrawn from the event. He emphasized that the athletes and coaching staff have been advised to remain cautious amid the ongoing disturbances in parts of France.

The BAM has also informed the Malaysian Embassy in Paris of all participants traveling to the tournament to ensure consular support is available if needed. “We have written to our embassy in Paris and informed them of the names of the players and coaches who will be involved in the tournament. We hope the embassy will be able to assist if anything happens,” Goh said.

The decision comes in the wake of widespread protests across France over the weekend, involving trade unions, student groups, and supporters of the Yellow Vest movement. Demonstrators have expressed grievances related to rising living costs and concerns about the prospects for younger generations. The protests escalated into violent clashes in multiple locations, resulting in more than 2,400 arrests nationwide.

Despite this volatile atmosphere, tournament organizers have not canceled the French Open, and Malaysian officials remain committed to their full participation.