MELAKA: Shuttler Aaron Chia received RM70,000 from the state government in Ayer Keroh here today as an incentive for winning the world title in Tokyo with Soh Wooi Yik.
Athletes who won medals at the Malaysia Games last month also received incentives from the state government.
Youth, Sports and Non-Governmental Organisation Committee chairman V.P. Shanmugam represented Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali at the event.
Aaron-Wooi Yik became Malaysia's first world champions in badminton when they defeated Indonesia's Mohammad Ahsan-Hendra 21-19, 21-14 in the men's doubles final in August.
The pair also won gold (team) and bronze (men's doubles) at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games, also in August.
Aaron thanked the state government for the incentive and hoped it will inspire him to do well in next month's BWF World Tour Finals in Guangzhou, China.
In the French Open last week, Aaron-Wooi Yik were ousted by China's Liang Wei Keng-Wang Zhang 21-13, 21-14 in the first round. Prior to that, they were defeated by Indonesia's Marcus Fernaldi Gideon-Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo in the semi-finals of the Denmark Open.
"We were still affected by our Denmark Open defeat and could not focus at the French Open. We will regroup and do better in Guangzhou," said Aaron.