KUALA LUMPUR — Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh wants shuttlers going pro to be wary, warning that the path often lacks the stable support provided by national sports bodies.
Speaking after an event at SJK(T) Segambut today, Hannah highlighted the risks of chasing lucrative but fleeting sponsorship deals.
“Sometimes, these sponsorships are shortcuts and look lucrative but they do not necessarily last. When a shuttler’s ranking drops, they will drop the shuttler and he or she will not know where to seek help,” she said, Bernama reported.
The minister pointed to men’s singles shuttler Lee Zii Jia’s exceptional case as unrealistic for most athletes.
“Not all professional athletes can be like Lee Zii Jia. That’s why if someone turns professional, don’t just follow blindly.”
While Zii Jia (2022 Asian champion and Paris 2024 bronze medallist) and world No. 2 doubles pair Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin have succeeded post-BAM, Hannah emphasised these are exceptions.
The comments come amid speculation about women’s doubles stars Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah potentially leaving the national setup after their contracts expired in January.
Hannah also called on corporate backers to honour commitments.
“Sponsors must fulfil promises to shuttlers who deliver results.”
She also urged independent players to reinvest portions of their National Sports Incentives Scheme (Shakam) rewards into youth development. — April 8, 2025