KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia’s chef de mission to the Paris Olympics, Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin wanted the expectations of athletes in the Road to Gold programme to be managed as it is still early in the Olympics cycle.
The programme was established with the aim to clinch Malaysia’s first Olympic gold medal at the 2024 Paris and 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Among those currently in the programme are national track cyclists Datuk Azizulhasni Awang and Shah Firdaus Sahrom, badminton aces men’s singles Lee Zii Jia, and men’s doubles Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik and Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi.
Others include women’s doubles Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah, mixed doubles Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing and Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai, and divers Datuk Pandelela Rinong Pamg and Nur Dhabitah Sabri.
“I have met with Azizulhasni, Shah Firdaus and John Beasley (national track cycling head coach).
“I have told the coach for the time being to focus on (Azizulhasni’s) health and performance.
“There is no need to think about gold, silver or bronze…this is not the time.
“We want to reduce the pressure on him; he is fully committed to the Road to Gold programme, but it is still early,” said Hamidin.
Hamidin added the same goes for badminton players, as they need to put themselves in a position where they could at least get to quarterfinals of tournaments.
“It is like I said to Lee Zii Jia…this is not the time to think about gold.
“All our players need to do is get to the quarters, semis and finals of tournaments.
“When we get to April or May, then we go for the final push.
“I think badminton is on the right track, and I will monitor them closely.” – The Vibes, May 29, 2023
