KUALA LUMPUR – Hard work never betrays results, but even substantial rewards should not lead to a sense of entitlement.
This is the principle upheld by men’s doubles player Aaron Chia, as he shared in an interview with Scoop.
Aaron said that while rewards for hard work are valuable, they should not make athletes complacent.
Instead, these rewards should serve as a catalyst for athletes to strive even harder and achieve greater success.
Aaron is one of three Malaysian badminton players who received a luxury SUV from Chery Malaysia yesterday.
Alongside his partner, Soh Wooi Yik, and men’s singles player Lee Zii Jia, he was honoured for their bronze medal achievements at the Paris Olympics.
In addition to this, each of them also received RM100,000 from the National Sports Council under the Sports Achievement Prize Scheme (Shakam).
This is double what Aaron and Wooi Yik received after winning bronze at Tokyo 2020, where they had to share a RM100,000 reward.
“I think it depends on how you view it. Rewards are certainly a great motivation for athletes, but as athletes, we must compete regardless of the rewards because we are representing our country. Rewards are just an extra bonus.
“I will continue my career, and if rewards come, of course, I will be happy. It’s normal: if you achieve something, you’ll get results.
“Sometimes, the impact of rewards might not be immediately visible, even if they are significant. They can make you a bit more laid-back. I’m not suggesting this is a bad thing; it’s just my perspective as an athlete,” Aaron said.
Since starting their careers with the national team in 2015, Aaron and Wooi Yik have achieved numerous successes for Malaysia and have been key pillars of the national squad in major tournaments.
Their greatest achievement came in 2022 when they made history as Malaysia’s first badminton world champions. – August 23, 2024