KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 27 — Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh will hold talks with shuttlers Lee Zii Jia (men's singles) and Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Mohd Rumsani (men's doubles) to discuss the potential (for collaboration) and assistance that can be provided through the Road to Gold (RTG) programme for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games (LA28).
"After the Paris Olympics last year, we (the committee members) discussed how we can help provide professional players like Zii Jia with a better support system. Zii Jia is not under the RTG programme but we will discuss this matter.
"The trend now is that a lot of independent players are doing really well, including Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin. We want to know how we can better support them and the meeting is to discuss the potential for collaboration with the RTG,” she said, adding that the talks are expected to begin next month.
Yeoh was speaking to the press during the ceremony to hand over the basketball court facilities upgrading project in Bukit Maluri today.
She added that the meeting could not be arranged sooner due to the Chinese New Year holiday period.
"We will arrange it after that (because) it will be the puasa month soon after. So, we are trying to arrange the time because our athletes need to travel as well,” Yeoh said.
Last week, Goh-Izzuddin said they welcomed the offer from the RTF committee to join the programme as a preparation for LA28.
Meanwhile, the minister said the RTG Committee will be reshuffled and all athletes under the programme will be evaluated.
— Bernama
[caption id="attachment_373244" align="aligncenter" width="1217"]
Professional men’s doubles shuttlers Nur Izzuddin Mohd Rumsani (left) and Goh Sze Fei in action against Indonesia’s Muhammad Shohibul Fikri-Daniel Marthin 21-14, 24-22 in the China Open in Changzhou on September 21, 2024. — Picture via FACEBOOK/BADMINTON ASSOCIATION OF MALAYSIA - BAM[/caption]
