KUALA LUMPUR: As expected, the national hockey squad and a number of underperforming shuttlers have been dropped from the Road to Gold (RTG) programme.
RTG coordinator Datuk Stuart Ramalingam confirmed that doubles pairs Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing and Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai have been removed from the programme.
The hockey squad's axing comes as no surprise following their disappointing performance at the Hangzhou Asian Games earlier this month where they failed to make it past the group stage. The games had also served as a continental qualifier for the Paris Olympics.
The decisions were made during the third RTG committee meeting in Bukit Jalil today, chaired by Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh.
"Kian Meng-Pei Jing have dropped to No. 23 in the qualifying rankings since the Olympic qualifying (window) began in May," said Stuart.
"It is the same with Soon Huat-Shevon who have dropped to No. 17.
"The RTG will consider their reinclusion if they are able to improve themselves and achieve a top-eight rank (world rankings) or top-16 in the Race to Paris (Olympic qualifying rankings).
"The same goes for the hockey squad that failed to win gold at the Asian Games. We will consider their reinclusion if they can secure qualification at the next Olympic qualifiers in Muscat or Valencia next year (both January)."
Stuart disclosed that only one athlete has been added to the RTG programme, weightlifter Aniq Kasdan, who competes in the men's Under-61kg class.
"Aniq is currently 10th in the Olympic qualifying rankings, which is one of the criteria to be in the RTG programme," added Stuart.
"He is only 21 and has a lot of potential. His personal best is only 3kg less than that of the Olympic bronze medallist from Tokyo 2020."
Stuart added that diver Bertrand Rhodict Lises and shooter Johnathan Wong, who have both secured qualification for Paris, have not been included in RTG, but will receive additional support via the Olympic Incentive Scheme.
Equestrian rider Qabil Ambak Fathil, who won gold in Hangzhou, has announced that he will not be competing in Paris.
Meanwhile, Yeoh said that RTG committee member Datuk Nicol David has been asked to look at how RTG can help Malaysian squash prepare for an assault on gold at the 2028 Los Angeles (LA2028) games.
After years of trying, squash finally received the green light to be included at the Olympics earlier this month. They will make their debut at LA2028.
"The entire nation is excited about the prospect of squash contributing gold in 2028, but there is a lot of planning that needs to be done from now," said Yeoh.
"The RTG committee has given Nicol the task of coming up with a plan to look at how RTG can support squash.
"We already had a brief session just now to see what it (support) will look like, but there is still a lot of engagement with the national association, national coaches and so on that needs to take place."
RTG is an elite athlete preparation programme intended to provide cream-of-the-crop athletes the additional support they need to challenge for gold in Paris, LA2028 and other major international competitions.
In addition to sport science support, competition exposure and coaching, athletes under RTG also receive an additional allowance of RM3,000 a month.