PETALING JAYA: Johor shuttlers could pocket up to RM20,000 if they deliver a gold medal at the Selangor Malaysia Games (Sukma).

The Johor Badminton Association (JHBA) will hand out an additional RM10,000 to every gold medallist, matching the RM10,000 incentive offered by the Johor State Sports Council.

JHBA president Datuk Chong Juong Chain said the extra reward was not just to spur the players on at Sukma, but also to recognise the time, money and effort they have put into the sport.

For Juong Chain, RM20,000 may sound like a lot but it is still small compared to what players have to spend throughout their careers, especially with badminton becoming an increasingly expensive sport.

"We are moving in line with the Johor state government’s vision, so we decided to match their reward for players who win gold.

"The state government will give RM10,000 and JHBA will also give RM10,000.

"It may look like a big amount, but a badminton player’s career is short and it is not cheap for them to get to this level.

"They have spent the last two years training and made a lot of sacrifices. This is the least we can do to show our appreciation for all their hard work," said Juong Chain.

Johor also had a short training camp with Rio 2016 Olympic silver medallist Chan Peng Soon and former SEA Games medallists Peck Yen Wei and Cheah Yee See ahead of Sukma.

Juong Chain said the sessions were useful in helping the players put the finishing touches on their preparations.

“At this stage, there is not much you can change in terms of skills.

“But the experience shared by the former national players can help them stay calm and manage themselves better during matches.

“It was more about fine-tuning their game and finding the best tactics,” he added.

Johor have been drawn in Group B of the men’s team event with Sarawak, Federal Territories and Penang.

The women’s team are in Group D with Perak.