KUALA LUMPUR — Despite wearing many hats, former world number one Datuk Lee Chong Wei remains dedicated to improving Malaysian sports.
Speaking to Scoop, the 42-year-old retired shuttler said he would do whatever he could to assist Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh.
This comes following the announcement that he will continue as a mentor in the Road to Gold (RTG) programme, alongside Malaysian hockey legend Datuk Mirnawan Nawawi and eight-time squash world champion Datuk Nicol David.
Chong Wei had initially considered stepping back from the programme but had a change of heart after Hannah persuaded him to stay, as the minister continues to have faith in him and the other committee members.
“Yes, I’ll need to juggle my time better,” joked Chong Wei, who was also recently appointed as a sports ambassador for Johor by Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, the Regent of Johor.
“But when someone places their trust in me, I will give my best and do everything within my capacity to help. At the end of the day, this is a national duty—we must do what we can.
“I also want to thank YB Hannah for her unwavering belief and trust in me,” added the three-time Olympic silver medallist.
Alongside Chong Wei, Mirnawan, and Nicol, other committee members who will remain with RTG until at least 2026 include Tan Sri Mohamad Norza Zakaria, who now serves as deputy chairman, and programme coordinator Datuk Stuart Ramalingam.
At the same time, two new faces joining the committee are former National Sports Institute (NSI) chief executive officer Datuk Dr Ramlan Abd Aziz and former Malaysia Swimming (MS) secretary-general Mae Chen.
The RTG committee is expected to announce the list of new athletes eligible for support in the lead-up to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics after the Hari Raya celebrations. — March 26, 2025