KUALA LUMPUR — Independent shuttlers, men’s doubles world No. 1s Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin Rumsani and mixed doubles’ Goh Soon Huat and Shevon Lai, are set to receive substantial performance support under the Road to Gold (RTG) programme — a timely boost in their quest to qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
It is understood that the value of support — which includes access to dedicated physiotherapists, masseurs, nutritionists, video analysts, and official hotel accommodation during competitions — could amount to about half a million ringgit per pair, depending on tournament schedules and individual needs.
These provisions, often personally funded by independent athletes, will now be covered under the RTG initiative — allowing the players to redirect their own resources towards other performance-enhancing needs such as extended training camps or personal coaching.
In addition, each athlete under RTG will receive a monthly RM1,500 allowance for now, further easing their financial burden as they prepare for major international tournaments.
For players competing outside the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) structure, such backing can be transformative. For Shevon Lai, it represents both reassurance and renewed motivation.
Speaking to Scoop, Shevon said: “I think for me and Soon Huat, to have RTG’s support is having access to solid support in terms of sports science facilities. This includes medical, sports performance expertise, nutrition, and top-tier facilities.
“As independent players, sourcing for funding is our biggest challenge, but to try and maintain performance at the highest level, we need a lot of support in terms of sports science facilities.
“To have a full-time therapist alone, following us around for tournaments, comes up to about RM200,000. Just recently, we started sharing a physical trainer with Sze Fei and Izzuddin. Most days, our training is bare with only our coach.”
“We are honoured to be part of this national project. We appreciate the support from RTG to help us elevate our performance and promise to give our best in the upcoming competitions.
“A big thanks to Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh, the RTG Committee and project coordinator Datuk Stuart Ramalingam for making this happen,” she said on Instagram.
The commitment, signed by both pairs on June 18, comes just over a week after another independent shuttler, Lee Zii Jia, turned down a similar offer. The world No. 28 men’s singles player, still recovering from an ankle injury sustained last year, said he felt others were more deserving of the RTG support at this time.
His decision was met with understanding by the Ministry, which confirmed the programme remains open to him should he choose to opt in later.
“The RTG programme has always supported athletes who meet its criteria,” said Hannah through a statement on social media.
“We hope this additional support will spur them further in their pursuit of excellence,” she added.
With the Los Angeles Olympics still three years away, the road ahead remains challenging — but for these four independent players, it has just become a little less steep. – June 19, 2025