KUALA LUMPUR: There is nothing insensitive about acknowledging a rival's strength, says Hannah Yeoh.
In a series of social media posts, the Youth and Sports Minister addressed criticism she received for sharing a photo with Thai shuttler Kunlavut Vitidsarn, who bested national shuttler Lee Zii Jia at the Paris Olympics.
She said Malaysians were not "sore losers".
"I am not just the Sports Minister but the Youth Minister as well.
"I am not all about winning medals at all costs. I am here to instill a healthy sporting culture for our youth.
"We are not sore losers and there is nothing insensitive about acknowledging our rival's strength after the competition," she said in her posts on Wednesday (Aug 7) night.
Yeoh was recently criticised for posting a photo with Kunlavut, saying she "enjoyed his style of badminton so much" and that he "has a new fan" in herself.
She further said in her posts that she saw how calm Kunlavut was when he defeated China's Shi Yuqi.
"Young people, be brave to call out what is good. If you sit around fearing social media comments, you allow opportunities to display exemplary acts to slip by.
"Sports teach us invaluable lessons about life and this is why parents must encourage children to do sports.
"They become stronger when they practise good sportsmanship," she said.
Yeoh also highlighted the importance of understanding Olympic values such as respect and friendship, sharing a post from the International Olympic Committee to illustrate this point.
"When the competition has ended, after receiving your medals, you celebrate the winners.
"Sportsmanship is about accepting loss when all is fair and being able to acknowledge your rivals in a respectful manner," she said.
Yeoh also shared a photo of her congratulating coaches Tan Kim Her and Jeremy Gan, both Malaysians, when their Japanese athletes won.
"It is not about being a fan of Kunlavut. I am consistent about practising good sportsmanship and I represent Malaysia.
"Be honourable even when we lose. So to our Asean neighbour Thailand, I say to you again congratulations.
"We should be lifting each other up," she said.
It was reported on Wednesday (Aug 7) that Yeoh received brickbats from Malaysians online after she posted selfies with Kunlavut and congratulated him on winning the silver medal.
She posted the selfies on Instagram, only days after Kunlavut beat Zii Jia in the semi-finals of the men's singles badminton match.
This drew the ire of Malaysians with many calling her post inappropriate and insensitive.
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