PETALING JAYA: Men’s doubles player Man Wei Chong (pic) is relieved to retain his place in the national elite Road to Gold (RTG) programme despite the uncertainty over his ranking following his new partnership with Soh Wooi Yik.
Wei Chong and several other national badminton players recently signed their contracts with RTG for the 2026 cycle.
He said the RTG had given players with new partnerships some leeway by allowing them time to rebuild and improve their rankings.
“RTG haven’t put too much pressure on us. They understand that we’ve split from our previous partners, so even though we’ve changed pairings, they’ve still given us a chance,” said Wei Chong when met at the Academy Badminton Malaysia (ABM) in Bukit Kiara yesterday.
“Hopefully, Wooi Yik and I can improve our ranking.
“The RTG contract is renewed every year and there are KPIs that we need to meet. I don’t want to say too much about the KPIs, but the contract is for one year.’’
Wei Chong is currently ranked No. 9 in the world with Tee Kai Wun, while Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik are ranked No. 3.
The reshuffle is likely to affect the players’ rankings in the short term, but the coaching team believe the move will give Malaysia a better chance of challenging for a medal at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Under RTG’s criteria, athletes are required to finish the year inside the world’s top eight and also finish among the top eight at this year’s World Championships.
The targets will become even tougher next year, with athletes expected to break into the world’s top four.
Meanwhile, Wei Chong has welcomed the reshuffle and is excited about partnering Wooi Yik at the Japan Open next month.
Wei Chong, who returned to training yesterday, said he is feeling much better after being sidelined for several weeks due to an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury to his right knee earlier this year.
“There are still two to three weeks before the Japan Open, so I still have a lot of work to do because I’ve been out for about two months. Wooi Yik and I will also need to discuss our game and how we want to play together.
“He is one of Malaysia’s best men’s doubles players and has achieved excellent results. It’s a great opportunity for me to learn from him and gain more experience,” added Wei Chong.
