PETALING JAYA: Professional men’s singles shuttler Lee Zii Jia’s decision whether to come on board the Road to Gold (RTG) programme or once again turn it down will only be known at the end of the month.
RTG coordinator Datuk Stuart Ramalingam said discussions had been made with all 16 athletes invited into the elite programme, including squash players Ng Eain Yow and S. Sivasangari, who are part of the fast-track RTG initiative.
The programme provides support that enhances athletes’ performance as part of Malaysia’s push to win their first-ever Olympic gold at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
Stuart declined to comment on whether Zii Jia is interested in joining the programme this time around. The Paris Olympic bronze medallist had previously turned down the offer to be part of the RTG initiative two years ago.
The decision on whether Zii Jia and the rest of the athletes will commit to the programme is expected to be finalised by the end of May.
“We’re conducting engagement exercises with the coaches and staff, and we expect to get feedback and commitment by the end of May. Everything is moving along according to the timeline, so I don’t believe there will be any delays.”
“Discussions are still ongoing, including with Lee Zii Jia. For us, it’s a process. I believe these decisions require confirmation and collaboration from both parties,” said Stuart when contacted.
Previously, Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh had explained that there was no compulsion for any athlete to be selected or not participate in the RTG programme.
However, if Zii Jia or any athlete agrees to join the programme, they must strive even harder as stricter conditions have been set to ensure the original goal of winning Malaysia’s first Olympic gold medal stays on course.
Athletes must consistently maintain a position within the world’s top 10. The requirement will become even more challenging next year, as they will need to break into the top eight.
By 2027, the conditions will be even tighter. Athletes must qualify for the Olympics on merit and achieve a world ranking of at least number four, which they must also sustain throughout 2028.
