Malaysia's Sporting Journey Towards Olympic Success: Badminton Training in Paris, Cycling Camp in Mallorca
Conor Hudson
Wed Mar 06 2024
Malaysia's sports scene is abuzz with preparations for the upcoming Olympic Games, with the national badminton team set to undergo intensive training in Paris and the cycling champions gearing up at a camp in Mallorca. Let's delve into the training plans and challenges faced by these elite athletes on their road to Olympic glory.
The Malaysian badminton team, led by program coordinator Stuart Ramalingam, is embarking on a 10-day training camp in Aire Sur La Lys, France, from July 10th to 20th to sharpen their skills ahead of the 2024 Olympics in Paris. In addition to the pre-Olympic training camp, the Road To Gold (RTG) committee is fulfilling two other training requests from the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) for tournaments in China. Specifically, the Asian Badminton Championship (BAC) 2024 in Nanning from April 9th to 14th, followed by the Thomas Cup and Uber Cup 2024 in Chengdu from April 28th to May 5th.
Stuart Ramalingam outlined the training schedule, with the first camp before the BAC starting from March 26th to April 6th, followed by the second camp before the Thomas Cup and Uber Cup from April 15th to 24th. The RTG program has listed seven players under BAM's sponsorship, including singles player Ng Tze Yong, men's doubles world champions Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik, top women's doubles players Pearly Tan/M. Thinaah, and Malaysia's top mixed doubles pair Chen Tang Jie/Toh Ee Wei.
On the cycling front, the RTG committee has given the green light for cycling champions Mohd Azizulhasni Awang and Muhammad Shah Firdaus Sahrom to participate in focused training camps before major global sporting events. The cyclists will undergo training camps in Brisbane, Australia, from March 23rd to April 13th and Silverstone, UK, from June 9th to 13th, with the pre-Olympic camp scheduled in Mallorca, Spain, from June 13th to August 1st.
The RTG committee is closely monitoring the health status of Mohd Azizulhasni, who underwent heart surgery in April 2022, providing support for his training and medical needs. Meanwhile, Ng Tze Yong recently underwent successful back surgery at the National Sports Institute, with hopes for a speedy recovery. However, Ng Tze Yong's Olympic dreams for the 2024 Games in Paris may be jeopardized due to a lower back injury suffered during the Malaysia Open in January 2024. The back surgery will require him to take a few weeks off from competition, potentially impacting his qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympics.
As Malaysia's athletes push forward on their journey towards Olympic success, they face various challenges and setbacks that test their resilience and determination. The meticulous planning and support provided by the RTG committee are crucial in ensuring the athletes are primed for peak performance on the global stage. Stay tuned as Malaysia's sporting talents strive to make their mark at the prestigious Olympic Games.