KUALA LUMPUR: Former world No. 1 Lee Chong Wei wants to see more up-and-coming shuttlers fighting to get into the Road to Gold (RTG) programme.
If not for next year's Paris Olympics, Chong Wei believes they still have plenty of time to make the cut for the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
Chong Wei's comments came in light of Choong Hon Jian-Haikal Nazri's title-winning feat on Sunday at the Syed Modi International in Lucknow, India.
It is worth noting that the national men's doubles duo were only paired up in August.
"Certainly, I would like to see more shuttlers fighting to be a part of this programme because it is a programme that has a lot of benefits to help an athlete push further.
"At times, I feel like I was born in the wrong generation because I never had programmes like the RTG.
"I'm not talking about Hon Jian-Haikal alone, but also the other backup players like Yap Roy King-Wan Arif Wan Junaidi, and Justin Hoh who is back in action," said Chong Wei, who is a committee member with the top-up programme that was mooted by the Youth and Sports Ministry this year.
Chong Wei pointed out that until today, not many know of the benefits and what the RTG programme really is.
"It's a top-up programme to assist the cream-of-the-crop athletes in Malaysia in their quest to try and win that elusive Olympic gold medal.
"The criteria to be part of the programme are strict, but because we want to really see what more is needed by these high-performing athletes to push a little more to win the gold.
"If an athlete needs a specific Hokkien-speaking psychologist or a physical trainer, for example, then we will study the matter and meet their request if it can help them perform.
"This is on top of the RM3,000 monthly allowance," added Chong Wei.
The shuttlers under RTG are national men's singles Ng Tze Yong, former men's doubles world champions Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, Ong Yew Sin Teoh Ee Yi, women's doubles Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah, and mixed doubles duo Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei.
Former All England champion Lee Zii Jia was initially listed under the programme, but the independent shuttler, after deliberating on the pros and cons, turned down the offer.
