KUALA LUMPUR – With the 2024 Paris Olympics drawing near, scrutiny surrounds Malaysia’s athletic representation, primarily focused on the dominance of badminton within the Road to Gold (RTG) programme.
Among the 15 elite athletes in the RTG, an overwhelming majority – 10 athletes – are badminton players, sparking concerns about the nation’s heavy reliance on this sport for Olympic success.
Speaking to Scoop, seasoned local sports analyst Mohd Sadek Mustaffa acknowledged the high likelihood of the badminton team qualifying for the Olympics.
However, he emphasised the potential of athletes from different sports to secure elusive gold medals.
“I have a feeling that weightlifter Mohamad Aniq Kasdan could be one of them (to clinch a gold medal),” Sadek said.
Aniq stands out as a contender for his groundbreaking achievements, including making history as Malaysia’s first weightlifter to claim a medal in the 2021 World Weightlifting Championships when he secured silver.
He also set a new Games record in the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games after clinching gold.
Sadek raised concerns about the composition of the RTG programme, citing discrepancies in athlete selection.
He questioned the exclusion of already qualified talents in sports such as diving, sailing, and shooting, criticising the programme’s focus on medal prospects over potential gold medalists.
Citing an example, he debated independent shuttler Lee Zii Jia’s participation in the RTG programme despite being ranked outside the top 10 globally.
“Most of the athletes in the programme, such as Zii Jia, have not yet qualified for the Olympics.
“I’m unsure why the three main athletes (diver Bertrand Rhodict Lises, sailor Nur Shazrin Mohamad Latif, and shooter Johnathan Wong) who are already qualified for the Olympics were not included in this programme.
“This programme is called RTG, which is supposed to focus on athletes who can win gold medals for Malaysia.
“Maybe it should be renamed RTM, Road To Medal, because it seems the committee is mainly adding athletes with medal prospects to the list,” he added.
Sadek also talked about the ongoing delay in Zii Jia’s commitment to the RTG programme and questioned the prioritisation of his inclusion over other deserving athletes.
The former Asian champion’s potential inclusion appears based on recent progress, despite the absence of a top 10 world ranking.
However, his eligibility for additional support under the RTG programme hinges on signing the letter of commitment (LoC).
“Despite not signing the agreement, Zii Jia is still receiving support from the RTG committee, mainly because he’s the top-seed men’s singles shuttler in the country.
“I believe that Zii Jia will sign the LoC (by November 14), but he needs to maintain consistent performance in the upcoming Malaysia Masters and China Masters.
“If he happens to perform poorly, I think the RTG committee should consider replacing him with other deserving athletes,” he shared.
The RTG programme offers not just coaching and competition exposure but also additional financial support, including a monthly allowance of RM3,000, illustrating the stakes linked to an athlete’s commitment to the programme.
Zii Jia’s recent successes, despite not holding a top 10 ranking, have strengthened his case for inclusion, exemplified by victories in recent World Tour events.
The 25-year-old clinched his sixth World Tour victory at the Arctic Open.
The other 14 athletes in the RTG programme are track cyclists Datuk Muhammad Azizulhasni Awang and Muhammad Shah Firdaus Sahrom, divers Datuk Pandelela Rinong and Nur Dhabitah Sabri, and badminton players Ng Tze Yong, Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi, Pearly Tan-Thinaah Muralitharan, Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei, and Aniq. – November 3, 2023
