Johor Bahru: More world-class athletes will be made Johor sports ambassadors to empower and develop young athletes in the state, said Johor Youth, Sports, Entrepreneur Development, and Cooperatives Committee chairman Mohd Hairi Mad Shah. He mentioned that the athletes include Datuk Lee Chong Wei, Sonny Bill Williams (rugby), and Khabib Nurmagomedov (martial arts).

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the Regent of Johor, Tunku Mahkota Ismail, has already appointed a few athletes as ambassadors. Mohd Hairi expressed optimism about seeing more world-class individuals being made sports ambassadors in Johor, which he believes will greatly benefit the development of the younger generation of athletes.

“World-ranked athletes like Chong Wei, Sonny Bill, and Khabib, and potentially others from sports such as basketball, cricket, and hockey, can inspire the state’s young athletes to achieve success similar to theirs,” Mohd Hairi stated. He made these remarks during an event at the Larking state constituency’s breaking of fast and presentation of Aidilfitri contributions.

Mohd Hairi emphasized that the initiative aligns with efforts to transform Johor into a sports hub. He noted that sports could serve as a platform for economic networking, a driver of tourism, and a unifying force among the people.