11 shuttlers, including Lee Zii Jia and Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, were shortlisted for the Road To Gold (RTG) programme, created to deliver Malaysia’s first gold medal at the Olympic Games.

The rest of the shuttlers chosen included men’s doubles pair Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi, women’s doubles pair Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah and mixed doubles pairs Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing and Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Jemie Lai.

The other four chosen athletes were Azizulhasni Awang (cycling), Shah Firdaus Sahrom (cycling), Pandelela Rinong (diving) and Nur Dhabitah Sabri (diving).

Sports & Youth Minister Hannah Yeoh announced the much awaited line-up on Friday morning.

She explained the selections were based on two criterias – athletes who won a medal at the Tokyo Olympics and those currently in the world top 10.

The RTG, headed by project coordinator Stuart Ramalingam and other prominent ex-national athletes such as Lee Chong Wei, Nicol David and Mirnawan Nawawi, will meet the selected athletes soon.

“The RTG committee will meet the athletes and their coaches to hear their needs, and also to get their commitment on this project. The budget will only be determined after we have met all the athletes, and got the approval of the committee.

“There also isn’t a quota on how many athletes can be absorbed into this project. If more athletes get into the top 10 rankings, we can bring them in. Remember the RTG is for two cycles until the 2028 Games in Los Angeles,” said Yeoh.

Yeoh also added she will be meeting Zii Jia on Saturday to discuss his current situation.

“I don’t think Zii Jia’s needs are that much different compared to Pei Jing, for instance. But I know the interest in Zii Jia is far greater,” she added.

Stuart said one of the main purposes of the RTG would be to remove any obstacles that athletes may have in getting their wishlist.

“The spending has to be justified with the commitment and I hope the athletes will take this positively. The nation is looking and are behind us, so the commitment given by the athletes will justify their requests and demands,” he said.