KUALA LUMPUR – When it comes to the narrow margins that separate an athlete from an Olympic medal, few understand it better than three-time silver medallist Datuk Lee Chong Wei.
As a core member of the Road to Gold (RTG) programme, the Malaysian badminton legend has emphasised the importance of fully supporting local athletes like Mohamad Aniq Kasdan, who came agonisingly close to winning a medal on his Olympic debut at the Paris Games.
Yesterday, the 22-year-old weightlifter narrowly missed out on a podium finish by just one kilogramme, despite setting a national record with a total lift of 297kg in the men’s 61kg category.
China’s defending champion Li Fabin retained the gold with a total lift of 310kg, followed by Thailand’s Theerapong Silachai, who took silver with 303kg, while the United States’ Hampton Morris claimed bronze with 298kg.
“Finally, we Malaysians can look to other sports besides badminton, cycling and diving,” Chong Wei told Scoop.
“Aniq was outstanding on Wednesday, so it was painful to see him miss out on a medal by just a kilogramme.
“I believe this is where the RTG programme plays a crucial role in recognising these potential medal winners for the future and providing them with the necessary support.
“Weightlifting is not like other sports. It’s either you can lift or you can’t; clearly, Aniq is among the best in the world.
“With proper guidance and the right support, he is on track to win a medal at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.”
Reflecting on Aniq’s near miss and his own experiences in three Olympic finals (2008, 2012 and 2016), Chong Wei, who retired in 2019, added: “Back then, it was different. We didn’t have as much support from the government as athletes do today.
“No amount of money will ever be enough, let me tell you that, but in terms of facilities and other forms of support, I think the Youth and Sports Ministry under Hannah Yeoh is doing a great job.
“Under the RTG programme, we are also focusing on sports like squash ahead of the 2028 Olympics. So again, we are moving away from relying solely on badminton, cycling and diving.”
In addition to Chong Wei, the RTG committee includes three-time hockey Olympian Datuk Mirnawan Nawawi and eight-time squash world champion Datuk Nicol David. – August 8, 2024