11 hours Ago By Fadhli Ishak
PUTRAJAYA: Badminton legend Datuk Lee Chong Wei has urged athletes who have been selected for the Road to Gold (RTG) programme to accept the offer and make full use of the support provided by the government.Chong Wei, who is also an RTG committee member, said athletes should not view the programme as an obstacle or burden but instead view the vast scope of support it provides positively.RTG, an initiative led by the Youth and Sports Ministry and the Olympic Council of Malaysia, is intended to give cream-of-the-crop athletes the additional support they need to challenge for honours at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics as well as other major international events.
"We (previous generation) never had opportunities like this (RTG programme). Today, almost every form of support is provided from physiotherapy right up to performance analysis," said Chong Wei today (April 15)."Even professional players such as Lee Zii Jia are eligible to receive support under RTG, even though he is no longer under the BA of Malaysia (BAM).
"I hope he will think this through and accept this opportunity with an open heart."Zii Jia had previously been selected to join RTG for the 2024 Paris Olympics cycle though turned down the offer.For this year, athletes must rank within the top-10 in the world or have won a medal at the last Olympics to be eligible for RTG.
The selection criteria for RTG will, however, be tougher next year (top-eight) and for the 2027-2028 (top-four) period.Chong Wei views the tougher selection criteria positively."If we really want to win gold, we have to focus on the athletes who really have potential," said Chong Wei.
Chong Wei was speaking after the RTG committee meeting held in Putrajaya today which was chaired by Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh.The committee announced 16 athletes who have been selected for the programme this year. They have until next month to decide if they are going to accept the offer.
From the 16 athletes, 13 are from badminton while two are from track cycling and one from weightlifting.Five athletes have also been accepted in the RTG Fast Track programme which is aimed at younger athletes who are under the age of 25, have a top-20 world ranking or have won gold at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games.Athletes selected for the Road to Gold programme:Aaron Chia, Soh Wooi Yik, Pearly Tan, M.
Thinaah, Chen Tang Jie, Toh Ee Wei, Goh Sze Fei, Nur Izuddin Rumsani, Goh Soon Huat, Chevon Lai, Man Wei Chong, Tee Kai Woon,Lee Zii Jia (all badminton), Shah Firdaus Sahrom, Izzah Izzati Asri (both track cycling), Aniq Kasdan (weightlifting).Athletes selected for fast track programme: Ng Eain Yow, S. Sivasangari (both squash), Ariana Nur Dania, Syaqiera Mashayikh, Nurul Azreena Fazil (all archery)© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd.
