
RTG to give full support to athletes abroad
Stuart said the programme will provide the best support in meeting the needs of the athletes to help them achieve optimal performance levels, regardless of where they are training.
'Support programmes to help athletes travel abroad for training, environment, upskilling and improving their overall programme are available, we see that in Sivasangari and Eain Yow.
'So if athletes need additional assistance like this, I can bring it to a meeting to get approval...if the request is suitable for improving someone's performance, 100 per cent support is given,' he said when met recently, here.
Stuart said the RTG line-up includes former national top athletes such as Datuk Lee Chong Wei, Datuk Mirnawan Nawawi and Datuk Nicol Ann David who will help assess support needed by the athletes.
World number eight Sivasangari is part of the RTG programme, while world number 13 Eain Yow is included in the Fast Track RTG programme.
Apart from Sivasangari, eight badminton players including world number two men's doubles Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik and teammates Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun, national women's doubles Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah as well as national mixed doubles Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei had been announced to join the RTG.
Other athletes joining the programme are weightlifter Mohd Aniq Kasdan and track cyclists Nurul Izzah Izzati Mohd Asri and Muhammad Shah Firdaus Sahrom.
The national women's recurve archery trio Ariana Nur Dania Mohamad Zairi, Syaqiera Mashayikh, Nurul Azreena Fazil have also agreed to join the Fast Track RTG programme.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Star
2 days ago
- The Star
Shah Firdaus out to complete unfinished business in SEA Games
High aim up north: Shah Firdaus, who is under the Road to Gold programme, has been given the nod to make his first SEA Games appearance in Thailand.


The Star
4 days ago
- The Star
National athletes not encouraged to go professional, says Yeoh
KUALA LUMPUR: National athletes are not encouraged to leave sporting bodies and go professional, says the Youth and Sports Ministry. Its minister Hannah Yeoh said national athletes have ample allocations through the Podium programme, with additional infrastructure if listed under the Road to Gold programme. 'For private sponsorships however, not all professional athletes can find funds for subsequent years especially if their ranking drops,' she said during question time in the Dewan Rakyat on Thursday (July 31). 'In general, we do not encourage (going professional) especially for mainstream sports,' she added. Citing badminton as an example, she said it could lead to professionals having a lack of sparring partners. 'They may not be able to train with peers or those with the same skill levels. 'Under the Badminton Association of Malaysia and the Road to Gold programme, we provide sparring partners to ensure they can continue being competitive with athletes on their level,' she said, adding that national sporting bodies also utilise experienced coaches. Yeoh, however, acknowledged that it is difficult to give equal allocation and support to all sports. 'We need to look at how popular the sport is to the rakyat,' she said, noting how these were among the challenges faced on a tight budget. She was responding to a supplementary question by Nurul Amin Hamid (PN-Padang Terap) who asked if the ministry had any guidelines or monitoring systems to ensure private entities do not neglect national athletes who choose to compete as a professional. Among notable sporting stars who chose to leave national sporting bodies was national singles shuttler Lee Zii Jia. In 2022, Lee announced that he would be pursuing a professional career, leaving the Badminton Association of Malaysia.
![Sports psychologist debunks 'think positive' mantra for athletes [WATCH]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.nst.com.my%2Fassets%2FNST-Logo%402x.png%3Fid%3Db37a17055cb1ffea01f5&w=48&q=75)
New Straits Times
22-07-2025
- New Straits Times
Sports psychologist debunks 'think positive' mantra for athletes [WATCH]
KUALA LUMPUR: The age-old mantra of "just think positive" may be doing more harm than good for Malaysian athletes, warns a top sports psychologist. Philip Lew, who has worked with national athletes under the Road to Gold programme and Selangor Red Giants' eSports team, believes true mental resilience comes not from silencing negative thoughts, but from learning how to manage them effectively. "It's extremely difficult to simply think positively, especially when you're facing the pressure of major competitions," said Philip on Timesport: On The Beat, airing Tuesday. "As long as you're human, you will have negative thoughts. It's not a problem unless it becomes one." Rather than pushing unrealistic positivity, Philip promotes a more practical, empowering approach that encourages athletes to acknowledge fear and reframe it. One of his go-to methods? A simple but powerful mindset shift called the "But" technique. "An athlete might say, 'I couldn't do it.' That's a normal reaction. But you follow it with something constructive — '...but I'll try again' or '...but I've trained hard for this.'" "You're not denying how you feel. You're redirecting your focus to what comes next." Philip says the method allows athletes to process tough emotions without spiralling, creating a mental bridge between fear and renewed focus. He also reminds fans that elite athletes aren't immune to stress and anxiety. "They're normal people doing extraordinary things," he said. "We must accept that they can be vulnerable too. The pressure to be perfect is immense." While occasional doubts are normal, Philip warns that unchecked negativity can damage both daily life and sporting performance. "If it starts interfering with your life, then it's time to get professional help." Philip's approach shifts the conversation away from shallow, toxic positivity and towards real-world mental tools that prepare athletes for the highs and lows of elite sport. "It's not about thinking happy thoughts all the time," he said. "It's about building the mental skills to move forward — even when the thoughts aren't happy."