RTG to give pro shuttlers better training facility
PUTRAJAYA: Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh wants the Road to Gold (RTG) programme to provide professional shuttlers under RTG a better facility to conduct their training.
Yeoh said RTG coordinator Datuk Stuart Ramalingam is currently working out the details with the independent players.
Two professional pairs - Nur Izzuddin Rumsani-Goh Sze Fei (men's doubles) and Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai (mixed doubles) - put pen to paper on their RTG pledges earlier this week.
The two pairs are currently training at a badminton facility within Endah Parade.
"I hope we can help find them a more suitable place to train, a place which is more private so they don't have to go to shopping malls where you (the public) can see our players training," said Yeoh today (June 21).
"I believe Datuk Stuart will coordinate assistance for them.
"I don't have the full details yet but these are the types of assistance we are looking to give them. We could also improve access to pre-existing infrastructure to help them improve their performances."
Yeoh said RTG will also provide assistance to the professionals in terms of support from the National Sports Institute and also cover approved travel expenses to tournaments abroad.
Yeoh expects to see independent shuttlers continue to conduct joint-training exercises with their counterparts under the BA of Malaysia (BAM).
"We already had joint-training programmes previously during the previous Olympic cycle, it is normal," said Yeoh.
"What is important here is that all our players have sparring partners of equal standards regardless of whether they are professionals or under BAM."
RTG is intended to provide cream of the crop Malaysian athletes the additional support they need to challenge for gold at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics as well as other major international competitions.
On a separate note, Yeoh said she has not received any updates on the status of women's doubles pair Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah, who have been contemplating leaving BAM to turn professional.
"As I had said before, I am not aware of what the latest status is. From what I had read in the news, they said they have not decided and are waiting for BAM to make a decision," said Yeoh.
"So I hope BAM will find a solution soon so this does not affect our athletes' preparations.
"Regardless, Pearly-Thinaah are already in the RTG programme and we will continue to give them strong support.
"They have already shown improvement recently and I hope any (potential) changes that happen do not affect their performances."
Yeoh was speaking after delivering her speech at the 2025 Asean Persons with Disabilities in Sports Conference in Putrajaya today.
Over 250 representatives from Southeast Asian countries, local stakeholders and non-governmental organisations attended the two-day conference (June 20-21).
The objective of the conference is to empower the disabled community through the development of sports for all.
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