KUALA LUMPUR: Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh defended her "admiration" for Thailand's world champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn, and stressed the value of sportsmanship after she was "smashed" with criticism by Malaysian badminton fans.
Yeoh was accused of being "insensitive" and "unpatriotic" after posting a picture of her with Kunlavut who beat Malaysia's Lee Zii Jia in the men's singles semi-final at the Paris Olympics.
Yeoh responded to the backlash on Instagram, emphasising the importance of sportsmanship and highlighting the Olympic values of excellence, respect, and friendship.
"Very basic starting point," she wrote in a series of Instagram posts.
"When the competition has ended, after receiving your medals, you celebrate the winners.
"Sportsmanship is about accepting loss when all is fair and being able to acknowledge your rivals in a respectful manner.
"I am not just the Sports Minister. I am also the Youth Minister.
"I'm not all about winning medals at all costs. We are not sore losers. There is nothing insensitive about acknowledging our rival's strength after the competition.
"Sports teaches us invaluable lessons about life and this is why parents must encourage children to do sports. They become stronger when they practise good sportsmanship."
Addressing accusations of bias towards foreign athletes, Yeoh also shared a photo of her congratulating Malaysian coaches after Japan's Matsuyama Nami and Shida Chiharu defeated Pearly-Thinaah in the semi-final.
Yeoh stressed her consistent practice of good sportsmanship and urged everyone to "be honourable" in defeat.
"We should be lifting each other up," she added.