KUALA LUMPUR: Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh has stressed the importance of keeping Malaysia's medal hopefuls injury-free ahead of the all-important Paris Olympics in July.
Yeoh said this after being asked to comment on whether men's doubles shuttlers Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik can be considered one of Malaysia's main hopes to win gold in Paris.
The duo reached the All England final yesterday where they were tamed 21-16, 21-16 by defending champions Fajar Alfian-Muhammad Rian Ardianto (Indonesia) in 44 minutes.
"Aaron-Wooi Yik are being focused on in the Road to Gold (RTG) programme," said Yeoh today.
"We saw their performance yesterday, the game, however, went by so fast.
"From what I see now, the most important thing for us in the run-up to the Olympics is to ensure that they do not pick up any new injuries.
"They must be very careful and not get injured, this is of great importance. This also applies to our cyclists.
"As we have announced previously, all top-up facilities they (RTG athletes) have requested have been provided. From now until July, it is in their hands."
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, Los Angeles 2028 and other major international competitions.
In addition to extra sport science support, competition exposure and coaching, athletes under RTG receive an additional allowance of RM3,000 a month.
In addition to Aaron-Wooi Yik, track cyclists Azizulhasni Awang and Shah Firdaus Sahrom have been earmarked as potential medallists in the men's keirin event.