KUALA LUMPUR: Rejection or failure? Which word best describes professional shuttler Lee Zii Jia's decision not to be part of the Road to Gold (RTG) programme?
It is puzzling that Zii Jia has chosen to face the world of badminton independently with his support service staff instead of seeking assistance from RTG ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics.
While 14 other elite athletes promptly committed themselves to RTG, aiming for glory in major events, with the immediate target being the Paris Games, Zii Jia made RTG officials wait before ultimately deciding against accepting the offer.
In the era of professional sports, RTG may need to adopt a different approach when setting criteria for selected athletes.
The same offer, for example, to the No. 1 diver in Malaysia may not be as attractive to the No. 1 men's singles shuttler, simply because badminton is one of the most popular sports in the country, and many sponsors aspire to be part of the player's success, including in the context of branding.
Undoubtedly, RTG is strict in selecting athletes and would not hesitate to remove those who fail to meet targets. It's understandable, given that the majority of the funding comes from taxpayers' money.
However, for professional athletes like Zii Jia who enjoy ample support from sponsorship and endorsement deals, and a complete team of support service staff, joining RTG may not serve any purpose.
With ample backing from sponsors, it's likely Zii Jia wants to avoid controversies that could arise from questions about his inclusion in the programme, especially after inquiries were raised following mixed performances.
These questions arose when he had yet to make a decision about penning the Letter Of Commitment with RTG, which the media were left in the dark for many months prior.
Although Zii Jia is taking a significant risk by forgoing potential benefits from RTG, such as sports medicine services and performance sports science and tech support, he believes he does not need the additional boost at the moment.
For now, Zii Jia remains inconsistent but is still the best player in the country, with the potential to bring glory in major competitions like the Olympics.
Despite the risks, Zii Jia wants to chart his own destiny, reminiscent of Tupac Shakur's famous song "Me against the world."
Let's respect his decision and see how far he goes.
On the contrary, joining RTG could potentially add pressure on Zii Jia, not because of its services but from the noise people might make, criticising his performance and his inclusion.
The RTG and Zii Jia issue has set a precedent, as Malaysian athletes rarely decide against joining a well-organised elite programme to boost their performance.
Perhaps a different approach should be considered, recognising that one size does not fit all in modern sports.
