Hannah Yeoh, the Minister of Youth and Sports of Malaysia, has urged the national mixed doubles pair of Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei to reconsider their split-up plans under the Road to Gold (RTG) programme for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
“We cannot have athletes who are in the RTG this year suddenly deciding next year or the following year that they no longer wish to compete.
“Similarly, we cannot afford situations where doubles players abruptly decide to split from their partners. Discipline and accountability are crucial.
“With regard to the selected athletes, the nation has invested significantly in Tang Jie-Ee Wei, and they have flourished. I expect BAM and the players to uphold their commitments — they cannot simply make unilateral decisions,” said Yeoh at a RTG press conference in Putrajaya today.
The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) had announced last month that Tang Jie-Ee Wei are set to split.
However, Tang Jie-Ee Wei found themselves named together under the RTG programme, which was announced today.
Yeoh, who chairs the RTG committee, emphasized on stronger commitments, especially from athletes who have been signed under the scheme.
“We want to see strong commitment from the athletes who have signed contracts with us. The government has invested in these individuals, and we expect them to deliver results for the nation,” said Yeoh.
Datuk Lee Chong Wei, a part of the RTG committee, meanwhile said, “This (breakup) is a minor issue that should be resolved quickly if they are to continue their strong performances post-Paris and ahead of the Los Angeles Games
“If they split, they will have to start from scratch, and that would be unfortunate as they are currently ranked in the world’s top five. I hope they can sit down and resolve their differences for the sake of their future.”
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