Datuk Stuart Ramalingam, coordinator of the Road to Gold (RTG) programme, has reaffirmed the initiative’s commitment to supporting all athletes under its care — including those currently training or competing overseas, such as national squash stars S. Sivasangari and Ng Eain Yow.
Stuart emphasized that the programme is dedicated to delivering top-tier support tailored to each athlete’s needs, ensuring they can reach their peak performance — no matter where they are training.
“Support systems are in place to help athletes travel overseas for training, exposure to new environments, skill enhancement, and overall programme development — as seen in the cases of Sivasangari and Eain Yow,” he explained.
“If any athlete requires extra assistance of this nature, I’m prepared to present the request at a meeting for approval. As long as the proposal is relevant to enhancing an athlete’s performance, it will receive full backing,” he added during a recent interview.
Stuart shared that the RTG team features former national sports icons like Datuk Lee Chong Wei, Datuk Mirnawan Nawawi, and Datuk Nicol Ann David, who play a key role in evaluating the type of support required by the athletes.
World No. 8 S. Sivasangari is currently part of the RTG programme, while World No. 13 Ng Eain Yow has been placed under the Fast Track RTG initiative.
In addition to Sivasangari, the RTG roster also includes eight national badminton players, among them world No. 2 men’s doubles pair Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik, fellow men’s doubles duo Man Wei Chong and Tee Kai Wun, women’s doubles pair Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah, as well as mixed doubles partners Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei.
The RTG programme also includes weightlifter Mohd Aniq Kasdan, along with national track cyclists Nurul Izzah Izzati Mohd Asri and Muhammad Shah Firdaus Sahrom.
In addition, the national women’s recurve archery trio—Ariana Nur Dania Mohamad Zairi, Syaqiera Mashayikh, and Nurul Azreena Fazil—have committed to joining the Fast Track RTG initiative.
The Road to Gold (RTG) programme continues to demonstrate a strong commitment to nurturing Malaysia’s top sporting talents by providing comprehensive, athlete-focused support. With a growing roster of elite athletes across various disciplines, both at home and abroad, the programme is laying a solid foundation for future international success. Backed by experienced national legends and a flexible, responsive support system, RTG stands as a vital pillar in the nation’s pursuit of Olympic glory and long-term sporting excellence.
Source: Malay Mail
