PETALING JAYA: There may not have been prize money for podium finishers at the World Championships in Paris last week, but mixed doubles pair Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei will still receive handsome rewards after creating history as world champions.
Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh announced that Tang Jie-Ee Wei will receive RM20,000 under the Shakam incentive scheme.
It is not just them who will benefit. Women’s doubles pair Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah, who returned with a silver medal from the world meet, will also pocket RM10,000 under the same scheme.
“For Shakam, the amount is fixed. For a gold medal, it is RM20,000, so each of them will receive RM10,000. For silver medallists, the total is RM10,000, so they will each take home RM5,000,” said Hannah when met at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport on Tuesday (Sept 2).
Both pairs can also look forward to more rewards as the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) is expected to announce its own incentives for their historic feats.
“I have spoken to BAM president Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul (Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz), and we will wait for the additional incentives that will be announced by him soon. He is currently in China with the Prime Minister,” she added.
Yeoh also gave her commitment that the government would continue to invest heavily in badminton, which she described as a sport that unites Malaysians.
“Badminton is a unifying sport for Malaysians, and under the Madani government, we will continue to provide strong investment for it. Under the Road to Gold programme, we have extended support not only to the athletes but also to coaches and the support team, including rehab and physiotherapy whenever they compete,” said Yeoh.
Tang Jie-Ee Wei created history by becoming Malaysia’s first-ever mixed doubles world champion after defeating China’s second seeds Jiang Zhenbang-Wei Yaxin in the final.
Pearly-Thinaah were equally outstanding. Despite falling to world No. 1 Liu Shengshu-Tan Ning of China in the final, they can hold their heads high after becoming the first Malaysian women’s pair to reach the World Championships final.
