Latest news with #2028OlympicGames
Hype Malaysia
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Hype Malaysia
Fans Voice Concerns For Lee Zii Jia's Mental Health Following Unsettling Instagram Post
Last month, national shuttler Lee Zii Jia (李梓嘉) declined the offer to join the Road to Gold (RTG) programme in preparation for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games (LA2028). According to his team, the athlete is still recovering from injuries sustained during the World Tour Finals in December and believes that his peers are more deserving of the opportunity at this time. Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh confirmed the news, but assured that the door remains open should the badminton player reconsider. It's been a few weeks since the news broke, and fans have been wondering how he's been coping. Many expressed concern after the young star posted a series of troubling images on his Instagram, which appeared to hint at his current mental health struggles. Here's what happened: Yesterday (Thursday, 3rd July), Lee Zii Jia shared a carousel of images on his Instagram, featuring drawings that appeared to depict struggles with mental health, particularly depression. The unsettling post was shared without a caption, and the athlete also changed his profile photo to black, further fuelling concern among fans. Naturally, many took to the comments section to express their support, offering words of comfort to the 27-year-old. Some, fearing the worst, urged the young star not to act rashly and reminded him that things can and will get better. Several fellow athletes also showed their support, including Lai Pei Jing, Yap Roy King, and Goh Jin Wei, who reminded Zii Jia that he doesn't have to face his hardships alone. Fans also urged Zii Jia's celebrity friends to check in on him personally, simply to ensure he is safe and well. After browsing through some of their social media pages, it was found that Lai Pei Jing recently posted about spending time with the Kedah-born badminton player and their friends at what appears to be a Disney-themed garden in Singapore. However, it remains unclear when the gathering actually took place. At the time of writing, neither Lee Zii Jia nor his team has issued any updates regarding his current condition. We sincerely hope that his friends and family are by his side during this difficult time and that he receives the support he needs to recover and regain his strength. Sources: Instagram, TheStar
Sinar Daily
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Sinar Daily
Zii Jia declines RTG offer
This is the second time the Paris Olympics bronze medallist has turned down an offer to join the RTG, following a similar decision in 2023. 10 Jun 2025 02:31pm Professional men's singles shuttler Lee Zii Jia has officially rejected the offer to join the Road To Gold (RTG) programme in preparation for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games (LA2028). Photo: Lee Zii Jia's Instagram PUTRAJAYA - Professional men's singles shuttler Lee Zii Jia has officially rejected the offer to join the Road To Gold (RTG) programme in preparation for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games (LA2028). This was confirmed by Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh at an RTG press conference at the Youth and Sports Ministry Tower today. Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh. Photo by Bernama However, Hannah said the door remains open for Zii Jia to join the RTG if he changes his mind in the future. "Zii Jia is not joining the programme for his own reasons. So we respect his decision,' she said. Zii Jia was among 16 athletes shortlisted under the RTG programme in April. This is the second time the Paris Olympics bronze medallist has turned down an offer to join the RTG, following a similar decision in 2023. Meanwhile, Team LZJ, in a statement today, expressed its gratitude to the RTG committee, especially Hannah, for offering Zii Jia the opportunity to join the prestigious programme. According to Team LZJ, after full consideration, they decided to decline participation in the RTG. "RTG is a programme reserved for the best of the best in the country, and since Zii Jia is still recovering from his injury, we feel that the appropriate assistance from the programme should be given to his fellow peers that are more deserving at this moment,' the statement said. - BERNAMA
Barnama
20-06-2025
- Sport
- Barnama
RTG Delighted By Inclusion Of Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin
KUALA LUMPUR, June 20 (Bernama) -- The Road To Gold (RTG) programme is glad to have four professional badminton shuttlers on board, said its project coordinator Datuk Stuart Ramalingam. Although the negotiations took a little longer, Stuart said that the world number one men's doubles pair Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani and mixed doubles pair Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie are satisfied with the services that RTG can offer to help enhance their performance levels. 'I think it's a good sign that the programme is well received by all parties. The programme has always been about performance support and I believe that's what the athletes will get, even the previous RTG cycle. bootstrap slideshow 'I think if you spoke to the coaches, you spoke to the athletes, they have no complaints about the RTG support system. It's down to the athletes at the end of the day, we can provide the best,' he said when met at the Spotlight on Sexual Harassment in Sports programme here, today. Stuart added that with the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games (LA28) still a long way off, athletes can make full use of the time with the services provided by RTG. Also present at the event today were Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh and Belgium's Ambassador to Malaysia, Peter Van Acker. Yesterday, Hannah announced Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin and Soon Huat-Shevon pledged their commitment to the RTG for the 2025 cycle. Last week, eight badminton players including world number two men's doubles duo Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik and teammates Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun, top national women's doubles pair Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah as well as national mixed doubles duo Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei had been announced to join the RTG. Other athletes joining the programme are weightlifter Mohd Aniq Kasdan and track cyclists Nurul Izzah Izzati Mohd Asri and Muhammad Shah Firdaus Sahrom as well as S. Sivasangari from squash.
The Sun
10-06-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Sivasangari latest to join RTG
PUTRAJAYA: National squash queen S. Sivasangari is the latest athlete to agree to join the Road To Gold (RTG) programme in preparation for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games (LA28). In addition to Sivasangari, eight badminton players — Aaron Chia, Soh Wooi Yik, Man Wei Chong, Tee Kai Wun, Pearly Tan, M. Thinaah, Cheng Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei — along with weightlifter Mohd Aniq Kasdan and track cyclists Nurul Izzah Izzati Mohd Asri and Muhammad Shah Firdaus Sahrom, have also agreed to join the programme. Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh, when announcing the RTG list today, said that four professional badminton players — Goh Soon Huat, Shevon Lai Jemie, Nur Izzuddin Mohd Rumsani and Goh Sze Fei — have yet to respond on whether they will join the programme. 'These four players have previously held discussions with RTG coordinator Datuk Stuart Ramalinggam. 'But they require a final meeting for us to align on the issues they previously raised,' she said at the RTG press conference at Menara KBS today. Hannah also announced that the national women's recurve archery trio — Ariana Nur Dania Mohamad Zairi, Syaqiera Mashayikh and Nurul Azreena Fazil — as well as squash player Ng Eain Yow have agreed to join the Fast Track RTG programme. Hannah said that today she also met with sports associations whose athletes are involved in the RTG programme. According to her, based on the discussions, almost all the applications received from the sports associations involved requests for exposure to tournaments and additional training to strengthen athletes' performance. 'Our hope is for all these athletes to remain in the RTG list and continue to improve, because currently they are ranked in the top 10. 'But by 2028, we want to see them in the top four or five, only then will we have a chance to win a gold medal,' she said. Meanwhile, Sivasangari said the RTG programme could help improve her performance in her mission to qualify for LA28. She also said the programme would ease her burden as she is currently training overseas. 'Joining this programme is very important for me because it provides financial support, especially since I am based overseas and preparing for the Olympics. 'All of us are working towards the Olympics, and being part of this programme gives us a major advantage in getting exactly what we need,' she said.
The Sun
10-06-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Zii Jia declines RTG offer
Professional men's singles shuttler Lee Zii Jia has officially rejected the offer to join the Road To Gold (RTG) programme in preparation for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games (LA2028). This was confirmed by Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh at an RTG press conference at the Youth and Sports Ministry Tower today. However, Hannah said the door remains open for Zii Jia to join the RTG if he changes his mind in the future. 'Zii Jia is not joining the programme for his own reasons. So we respect his decision,' she said. Zii Jia was among 16 athletes shortlisted under the RTG programme in April. This is the second time the Paris Olympics bronze medallist has turned down an offer to join the RTG, following a similar decision in 2023. Meanwhile, Team LZJ, in a statement today, expressed its gratitude to the RTG committee, especially Hannah, for offering Zii Jia the opportunity to join the prestigious programme. According to Team LZJ, after full consideration, they decided to decline participation in the RTG. 'RTG is a programme reserved for the best of the best in the country, and since Zii Jia is still recovering from his injury, we feel that the appropriate assistance from the programme should be given to his fellow peers that are more deserving at this moment,' the statement said. – Bernama
