Creating a safe haven in a harsh arena – Liu Ying leads the way

WHEN Goh Liu Ying was playing competitive badminton, life was far from a bed of roses.

Defeats, injuries, surgeries, and failures to meet expectations at times threatened to unsettle the mixed double star – to the point where she felt unworthy.

While success felt good, the glare of the limelight and life as a public figure had its drawbacks, but armed with inner strength, strong will, and the support of family, coaches, and friends, Liu Ying battled through it all.

It saw her achieve many accolades, including the silver medal at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games with partner Chan Peng Soon.

But if given the chance to turn back the clock, Liu Ying would have appreciated a safe space where she could internalise her struggles without being judged by others or even by herself.

That is why Liu Ying is so happy to have been chosen as one of the 15 ambassadors for MACE’s (Malaysian Athletes and Career Education) new venture, which is the setting up of the My Athlete Centre under the purview of the National Sports Council (NSC).

The centre, equipped with a cafe and mini games corner, provides a “safe zone” for national athletes to unwind and de-stress without fear or judgement.

Liu Ying understands that times have changed.

What she went through may have been very different from what current athletes face in today’s digital world, where every misstep can be met with ridicule, cruel comments, and even threats that spread like wildfire online.

She does not want athletes to feel alone as they manage mental strain and emotional fatigue.

Instead, she urges them to make their way to the centre, where they can relax, find comfort, and recharge before facing challenges head-on.

“Managing pressure was a continuous learning process for me. There were periods when results were not as expected, and the emotional impact was heavier than the physical fatigue,” said Liu Ying.

“The mental and emotional reset was often something athletes had to manage individually.

“Looking back, having a structured space like My Athlete Centre would have provided additional support during some of those challenging phases.”

MACE, who have enlisted Liu Ying and other former athletes as advocates to encourage athletes to use this safe haven, are not alone in doing so. World governing bodies in tennis and badminton are also taking proactive steps.

Tennis may have even gone a little extreme.

A WTA tournament in Texas set up a “rage room” for players to vent their frustrations away from the cameras after Coco Gauff’s racquet-smashing outburst at the Australian Open last month.

The ATX Open rage room allows them to express frustration or emotion in a safe, camera-free environment.

However, the setting up of such a room has sparked debate and questions.

Will it encourage players to vent their frustrations physically? Aren’t we supposed to learn to control our emotions?

There was also a “smash room” introduced at the Dubai Tennis Championships recently, and China’s Shang Juncheng was invited to try it out.

“I smashed a few items, including DVDs and big containers,” Reuters quoted him as saying.

“It’s loud and it’s intense, but in a good way. You get everything out of your system there instead of taking that frustration onto the court.”

It may work for some, but it does sound like a stretch.

Kudos, however, to the Badminton World Federation (BWF) for stepping up its fight against online abuse.

It has partnered digital safety specialists Signify Group to help protect players and officials from rising levels of harassment on social media.

Through Signify’s Threat Matrix service, reports of abuse will be analysed and pushed for further investigation, with serious cases referred to law enforcement agencies if necessary.

BWF secretary-general Thomas Lund said: “The safety and wellbeing of our athletes and officials is a top priority.

“We are giving our stakeholders the tools to better protect themselves, while sending a clear message to the public that such behaviour is not tolerated in our sport.”

With this, shuttlers like Aaron Chia or Toh Ee Wei, who have been victims of online abuse before, can better ward off these unwarranted distractions.

All they need to do is report abusive direct messages directly to the world body’s Integrity Unit.

The ball is in the athletes’ court, really. Help is aplenty. They just have to call for it.

With more good effort and care shown by former greats like Liu Ying, other stars and top organisations, things could get better.

It may not be a bed of roses, but it sure would be far more comfortable for athletes.