Malaysia’s badminton aspirations for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics received a significant boost with the inclusion of men’s doubles world No. 1s Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani and mixed doubles stalwarts Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie in the prestigious Road to Gold (RTG) programme for the 2025 cycle.
The announcement was made by Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh, who emphasized the extensive support these shuttlers will now receive as they embark on their journey towards Olympic qualification and a historic performance for Malaysia in Los Angeles.
“These four shuttlers will now receive extensive performance-related support as they aim to not only qualify for the 2028 Olympics, but also create history for Malaysia in Los Angeles,” Minister Yeoh stated in a press release on Thursday (June 19). She reiterated the RTG program’s commitment to athletes meeting its criteria, expressing hope that this additional backing would propel them to achieve excellence throughout the year.
Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani and Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie will join an already formidable contingent of shuttlers within the RTG programme. This includes fellow men’s doubles world No. 2 Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik and Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun, women’s doubles pair Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah, and mixed doubles duo Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei.
Beyond badminton, the RTG programme also extends its support to other promising Malaysian athletes. These include weightlifter Mohd Aniq Kasdan, track cyclists Mohd Shah Firdaus Sahrom and Nurul Izzah Izzati Asri, and squash player S. Sivasangari, all striving for international success and Olympic glory.
The inclusion of these top badminton pairs underscores Malaysia’s strategic focus on nurturing its elite athletes, providing them with the necessary resources and backing to compete at the highest level and fulfill the nation’s Olympic dreams. With comprehensive support now in place, the journey to Los Angeles 2028 looks increasingly promising for Malaysian badminton.
