New 'home' for pro shuttlers under RTG

National mixed doubles shuttlers Goh Soon Huat and Shevon Lai Jemie. — IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star
PETALING JAYA: Professional doubles pairs Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani and Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie set to get a new 'home" for training under the Road to Gold (RTG) programme. Plans are underway to provide the shuttlers with a more conducive training venue, which will help them in preparation for the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh, who also chairs the RTG committee, acknowledged that most professional players currently have to secure their own training spaces.
Currently, for these four shuttlers, their training sessions are held at the Endah Parade mall in Sri Petaling under coach Teo Kok Siang.
To improve their training conditions, the RTG committee is looking to streamline and upgrade access to existing infrastructure to help raise their performance levels.
RTG coordinator Datuk Stuart Ramalingam has been made aware of the issue and is working to identify a more suitable location for the pairs.
For the record, all four players signed their contracts with the Road to Gold (RTG) programme on Wednesday, joining 12 existing athletes already in the initiative.
'This matter (initial assistance) has been addressed by Datuk Stuart, but from past experience with pro athletes under RTG, we know they require services from the National Sports Institute (NSI).
'I also hope we can help find them a proper and more private training venue so they no longer need to train in a shopping mall," said Hannah.
The RTG committee is also looking into additional forms of support that can be extended to the players, including the inclusion of training partners.
At the same time, Hannah called on the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) to resolve the long-standing contract issue involving national No. 1 women's doubles pair Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah, which has dragged on for more than six months.
'I'm not sure about the current status. Some reports say there's no decision yet, while others say Pearly-Thinaah are waiting for a response from BAM.
"So I hope BAM can find a solution quickly so it doesn't disrupt the athletes' preparations,' she added.

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