Kuala Lumpur: Road To Gold (RTG) project coordinator Datuk Stuart Ramalingam has committed to ensuring that athletes under the programme receive full support while training abroad. This includes prominent national squash players S. Sivasangari and Ng Eain Yow, who are currently part of the RTG initiative.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Stuart emphasized that the RTG programme is designed to meet the diverse needs of athletes, facilitating optimal performance irrespective of their training locations. He highlighted the availability of support programmes aimed at enhancing athletes’ training environments, skills, and overall development. Stuart affirmed, “Support programmes to help athletes travel abroad for training, environment, upskilling and improving their overall programme are available, we see that in Sivasangari and Eain Yow.” He further assured that any request aligned with performance enhancement would receive complete backing.
The RTG programme boasts an experienced advisory line-up, including former national athletes like Datuk Lee Chong Wei, Datuk Mirnawan Nawawi, and Datuk Nicol Ann David, who are tasked with evaluating the support requirements of current athletes. World number eight Sivasangari is actively participating in the RTG programme, while world number 13 Eain Yow is part of the Fast Track RTG initiative.
In addition to Sivasangari, the RTG welcomes eight badminton players, notably world number two men’s doubles Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, along with teammates Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun, national women’s doubles Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah, and national mixed doubles Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei. The programme also includes weightlifter Mohd Aniq Kasdan and track cyclists Nurul Izzah Izzati Mohd Asri and Muhammad Shah Firdaus Sahrom.
Furthermore, the national women’s recurve archery team, comprising Ariana Nur Dania Mohamad Zairi, Syaqiera Mashayikh, and Nurul Azreena Fazil, has agreed to participate in the Fast Track RTG programme, underscoring the project’s expansive reach and commitment to developing national sporting talent.