Sivasangari gets RTG boost
PUTRAJAYA: Squash player S. Sivasangari is the latest addition to the Youth and Sports Ministry's Road to Gold (RTG) programme.
Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh confirmed Sivasangari's addition to the RTG programme during a press conference here today (June 10).
Sivasangari is now ranked No. 8 in the world and thus meets the top-10 criteria to be eligible for RTG.
She was previously under the Fast Track programme, which is a tier under the fully fledged RTG initiative.
"For squash, we were recently added to the Olympic programme for Los Angeles 2028 so to be in RTG helps," said Sivasangari during the press conference.
"I am also based overseas so it helps me out a lot in terms of financial support.
"We have another player (Ng Eain Yow) who is currently in the Fast Track programme and hopefully he can join us in RTG soon.
"I think all of us in the RTG programme are working hard in preparation for the Olympics and being in this programme helps us with the things we need to really push (for a good result) at the Olympics."
After years of trying, Squash is finally set to make its debut at the Olympics at Los Angeles 2028.
A total of 12 athletes have been confirmed for the RTG programme for this year and as expected most of them are badminton players.
The 12 are - Aaron Chia, Soh Wooi Yik, M. Thinaah, Pearly Tan, Man Wei Chong, Tee Kai Wun, Chen Tang Jie, Toh Ee Wei (all badminton), Aniq Kasdan (weightlifting), Shah Firdaus Sahrom, Izzah Izzati Asri (both track cycling) as well as Sivasangari (squash).
Another four more shuttlers - Goh Sze Fei, Izzuddin Rumsani, Goh Soon Huat, Shevon Lai - who are all independent players, have been given offers but have yet to confirm their places in RTG as they are currently on tour.
Four athletes are currently under the Fast Track programme for this year, they are - Ariana Nur Dania, Syaqiera Mashayikh, Nur Azreena Fazil (all archery) and Eain Yow (squash).
Yeoh, who is also the RTG chairperson, said the RTG committee held a meeting earlier today to discuss requests from coaches and associations of the athletes under RTG for this year.
"They have presented to us the top-up services they need for their athletes. We will look at it carefully before making a decision," said Yeoh.
"Most of them have asked for competitions to give their athletes more exposure while some have asked for new equipment and also media training for their athletes. We will consider this and make a decision soon."
RTG is intended to give Malaysia's top athletes the additional support they need to challenge for gold at the Olympics as well as other major international competitions.
In addition to sport science support, competition exposure and coaching, athletes under the RTG programme also receive a RM3,000 monthly allowance.
Athletes under the Fast Track programme receive the same support as RTG athletes, however, do not receive the monthly allowance.
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