KUALA LUMPUR – Lee Zii Jia being listed in the Road to Gold (RTG) programme does not guarantee him a spot in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, which takes place from July 26 until August 11 next year.
Instead, the independent shuttler would first need to prove his worth if he wishes to retain his listing in the RTG programme.
RTG coordinator Stuart Ramalingam said the athlete cannot be too comfortable with his current status as the country’s top men’s singles player as the list is not a fixed document.
“Maybe our athletes’ performance could drop over the next few months. Then, we will conduct periodical reviews to ensure that those who are included in the RTG list, including Lee Zii Jia, are given a proper evaluation and if they are committed to the programme.
“The review will be done every two or three months, or whenever required.
“They cannot be thinking just because their names are entered in the RTG, they can simply relax. Do not be too comfortable,” he said when met at a press conference last night.
On paper, world No. 4 Zii Jia is currently Malaysia’s best hope at winning the elusive gold medal in the men’s singles category.
However, the track record of his performances as of late has not been much convincing.
Zii Jia, who left Akademi Badminton Malaysia in January last year, failed to reach the quarterfinals of four BWF World Tour tournaments at the beginning of the season.
He was sent packing with early exits in the Malaysia Open, India Open, Indonesia Masters, and German Open.
His greatest achievement so far was his semi-final entry in the Super 1000 All England last month.
At his Olympics debut in Tokyo in 2021, the 25-year-old athlete was beaten in the last-16 round by the previous Olympic champion, Chen Long of China.
Stuart also noted that the list of athletes in RTG is a working document.
As such, other than considering the possibility of dropping underperforming athletes, the RTG committee could also consider adding those who excel.
“If there are athletes who may be performing in the next five or six months, they can also be included in the RTG.
“They will be provided support from the (Youth and Sports) Ministry, National Sports Council, as well as the cooperation that will be given by the Badminton Association of Malaysia and other national sports associations which involve a very high allocation of budget.
“The athletes would also need to give their highest commitment to our journey towards the first gold medal which is as required by the RTG programme and the country,” Stuart added.
The quest for the 2024 Olympic qualification for badminton begins on May 1 this year and ends on April 28 next year.
Apart from Kedah-born Zii Jia, 14 other athletes also listed under the RTG programme include national track cycling ace Datuk Mohd Azizulhasni Awang and teammate Muhammad Shah Firdaus Sahrom, as well as divers Datuk Pandelela Rinong Pamg and Nur Dhabitah Sabri.
The RTG project was launched on March 12 to coordinate the country’s efforts in its quest to bag its first Olympic gold medal.
Its framework covers Paris 2024 and Los Angeles 2028. – The Vibes, April 12, 2023
