PUTRAJAYA: National men’s singles ace Lee Zii Jia may not be part of the Road to Gold (RTG) programme, but his insights are proving valuable in shaping support mechanisms for other professional athletes.

While national athletes remain under the care of their respective sports associations, most professional athletes have to rely on their own funds to cover expenses such as competition fees, training equipment, injury treatment and more.

Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh, who also chairs the RTG committee, said Zii Jia had offered constructive input on areas such as injury management, tournament exposure and training facilities during their meeting on June 3.

Although the Paris 2024 Olympic bronze medallist has once again declined to join the programme, he did so to prioritise his recovery and allow the spot to go to other more eligible athletes.

Unlike other professional athletes, Zii Jia has a full support team comprising a physiotherapist, a strength and conditioning coach, two sparring partners, as well as oversight from coach Yeoh Kay Bin and Team LZJ manager Lee Zii Yii.

“I want to thank Zii Jia. Through our discussion, we received a lot of useful input on how to better support professional athletes,” said Hannah after the RTG athletes contract signing ceremony in Putrajaya yesterday.

“He gave thoughtful feedback on the RTG programme, but the final decision rests with the athlete. He chose not to join us, and we fully respect his decision.”

Despite his absence from the programme, Hannah reiterated her commitment to working with Zii Jia and any other professional athlete in the pursuit of Olympic glory.

“I want to make it clear that the RTG door remains open. If not this year, then perhaps next year or the year after as long as it’s before 2028. If any professional athlete wants to engage with us, we are ready to support them.

“Our goal is aligned with the athletes we want to help them bring home Malaysia’s first Olympic gold medal,” she added.

The input could prove useful for the four professional shuttlers, specifically men’s doubles world No. 1 Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani and mixed doubles pair Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie.

Both pairs have yet to confirm their participation in the RTG programme, although Hannah is confident the matter would be resolved soon.

“They have had two discussions with the RTG coordinator, Datuk Stuart Ramalingam, and still need time to align a few matters. There are some remaining concerns from their side, which Stuart will address as soon as possible,” said Hannah.

Currently, 12 athletes have been listed in the new batch of the Road to Gold (RTG) programme, with eight of them coming from badminton.

The list is led by Paris Olympic bronze medallists Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, women’s doubles pair Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah, mixed doubles duo Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei, and men’s doubles pair Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun, who are making their debut in the programme.

The remaining athletes include weightlifter Mohd Aniq Kasdan, track cyclists Mohd Shah Firdaus Sahrom and Nurul Izzah Izzati Asri, and squash player S. Sivasangari.

Meanwhile, Sivasangari teammates, Ng Eain Yow has been placed on the RTG fast-track list along with three archers, Ariana Nur Dania Zairi, Syaqiera Mashayikh and Nurul Azreena Fazil.