The ang pow we want from athletes – their best effort

WHEN I was younger, I used to joke that I was eligible to receive ang pow from my married Chinese friends. In fact, I still go around asking for the red packets, just for the fun of it. After all, I am still single.

However, over the years, I have learnt a valuable lesson – there is so much more joy in giving than receiving, especially if it’s for a good cause.

That is why my heart goes out to youngster Poh Yu Tian.

He is only 14 but already, he is a master with the chessboard. Sadly, lack of funds is hampering his progress.

The Penangite has already represented the country at the 2022 Vietnam SEA Games as one of the youngest participants when he was 12. In fact, he is now ranked No. 1 in Asia and No. 6 in world, in his age category.

He has even beaten older grandmasters during tournaments. He hopes to become the country’s first grandmaster but to reach that level, he needs financial support to compete abroad and get solid coaching.

Sadly, no one has stepped in to give him a hand. Ironically, he has been given the merry-go-round by the same authorities that should be guiding him to the top.

The Youth and Sports Ministry gave RM5mil for the national football team when they drew 3-3 against South Korea at the Asia Cup. They also promised a large sum when men’s hockey 5s team finished as runners-up at the World Cup.

Nothing wrong with that. It’s good to boost the promising ones.

But what about Yu Tian? Isn’t he a worthy case? It’s not too late to hand him an “ang pow” to take his game to a higher level.

The ministry have done one other thing right – they have recognised the tireless work of all the national and back-up coaches. After over decades of waiting, they have finally decided to increase the salaries of the coaches.

This probably is the best gift for those who have been working behind the scenes to push their athletes.

With the better wages, the ministry hope that former athletes will venture into coaching, something many have not done because it’s just not worth it. There was little money to take home.

But giving does not necessarily be in the form of money. Giving your best care, and effort matters too.

Coaches can do their best for their athletes while players can give back by producing good results too.

Our shuttlers, for instance, are now battling at the Asia Team Championships to book tickets for the Thomas Cup Finals in Chengdu, China, in April. They qualified for the Finals yesterday as one of the best four teams in Asia.

The Thomas Cup does not offer prize money but there is honour in winning the Cup, which we last did in 1992, a full 32 years ago.

Can our men shuttlers end the long agonising wait for the title? The last time Malaysia won, the whole nation came together regardless of their skin colours and different beliefs.

This time, professional singles shuttler Lee Zii Jia seems to have blended in well again with the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) players.

If they can put all their differences aside, Malaysia stand a chance of taking the fight to China, South Korea, Indonesia, Denmark and India, who are all in the race too.

There is a lot of money invested in these players, and it’s only right that they give as much back, too.

As long as they have given all they have, it is all right even if they do not succeed.

Take veteran diver Pandelela Rinong and Co for instance. They failed to qualify for the Olympic Games in Paris despite all their hard work.

But they have given us what would have been an impossible dream just over two decades ago – Pandelela won a bronze medal in 2012 and paired with Cheon jun Hoon for a silver in 2016.

Those are priceless gifts.

As Joan Marques once said: “It’s easier to take than to give. It’s nobler to give than to take. The thrill of taking lasts a day. The thrill of giving lasts a lifetime.”

Let’s hope our athletes will continue giving us pleasant surprises and memories.