RTG programme may consider new athletes for Olympics, says Hannah

KUALA LUMPUR – Any additional athletes in the Road To Gold (RTG) programme may be discussed at the programme evaluation committee meeting next month.

Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh said among the topics to be discussed at the meeting is the possibility of listing athletes who have booked their slots in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

“The meeting will look into the updates, including new rankings of athletes, as well as listen to feedback from three former athletes in the RTG committee, namely Datuk Lee Chong Wei, Datuk Mirnawan Nawawi, and Datuk Nicol David.

“After the RTG meeting, there will be a media conference,” she told reporters after launching the National Sports Institute Inspire 2023 programme here today.

Also present were Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Adam Adli Abd Halim and National Sports Institute chief executive officer Ahmad Faedzal Md Ramli.

So far, young diver Bertrand Rhodict Lises is the first national athlete to qualify on merit for the 2024 Olympic Games after entering the final of the men’s 10-metre platform in the 2023 World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, last month.

However, Bertrand is not listed in the RTG programme to pursue the country’s first gold medal in the 2024 Olympic Games. 

Among the athletes listed in the RTG programme are national track cycling champion Datuk Mohd Azizulhasni Awang, men’s doubles world defending champions Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, and diving queen Datuk Pandelela Rinong.

Hannah also announced the new board members of the National Sports Institute, including former national athlete Datuk Marina Chin as chairman and Medical Development Division director, and Dr Mohd Azman Yacob as the Health Ministry’s representative.

Apart from Nicol, Hannah also appointed Badminton Association of Malaysia deputy president I Datuk V. Subramaniam, Eastern Region Olympic Council of Malaysia chairman Dr Tan Kah Hock, and Universiti Malaya Sports and Exercise Science Faculty lecturer Dr Mohamed Nashrudin Naharudin as members appointed by the minister. 

She said all new appointments to the National Sports Institute board would be capable of upholding its vision and mission by enhancing the agency as the leader of the ecosystem for high-performance sports, apart from world-standard sports research and innovation. 

On National Sports Institute Inspire 2023, she said the programme is a celebration of its 12th anniversary on September 16. – August 22, 2023