PETALING JAYA: The message from Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh has been heard and Lee Zii Jia (pic) is set to meet up with a Road-to-Gold (RTG) representative soon.
Hannah and RTG coordinator Datuk Stuart Ramalingam revealed on Tuesday that Zii Jia has remained the only athlete under the programme, geared towards offering additional financial and support services in preparation for the 2024 Paris Olympics, who has yet to sign the commitment agreement (contract).
The shuttler has been given two weeks until Nov 14 to sign on the dotted lines in order to enjoy the full perks that come with being part of the RTG programme.
Zii Jia’s sister and manager Lee Zii Yii said that they are looking forward to a meeting with an RTG representative.
“Due to the tight tournament and training schedule, we are unable to meet them previously. We are trying to arrange for a meeting with the RTG,” said Zii Yii.
“We will share more details after the meeting.”
Badminton legend Datuk Lee Chong Wei, who acts as the badminton manager within the RTG committee, had also reasoned that the shuttler may have been tied up with a cramped competition schedule where he had been playing non-stop since the Asian Games in Hangzhou in September.
Zii Jia, the world No. 11, had played in the team and individual events at the Asiad before heading to the Arctic Open in Vantaa, Finland, where he secured his first title of the year last month. He also finished runner-up in the Denmark Open before bowing out in the last 16 of the French Open in Rennes a week ago.
“We understand that Zii Jia’s competition schedule has been tight and the RTG committee had given him two weeks to sign the contract. Let’s wait and see,” said Chong Wei.
The RTG committee have been considerably patient with Zii Jia as they have been trying to get him to sign the commitment agreement since June.
The committee have shown they are firm after dropping mixed doubles pairs Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie and Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing as well as the men’s hockey team from the programme due to their drop in performance.
Zii Jia has been showing marked improvement of late and deserves to be in the programme but the independent shuttler should also comply with the rules and regulations of RTG to continue enjoying his perks by meeting the Nov 14 deadline.
