Kuala lumpur: The combination of professional players and those under the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) can strengthen the country's challenge in the 2026 Thomas Cup competition in Horsens, Denmark, at the end of April, said Youth and Sports Minister Dr Mohammed Taufiq Johari. He is confident that the country's top professional shuttler, Lee Zii Jia, and BAM players could team up well to provide a vital boost to their Thomas Cup campaign.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Dr Mohammed Taufiq expressed gratitude to Zii Jia and the team for their commitment to the Thomas Cup quest, which Malaysia last won in 1992. He emphasized that their participation is driven by patriotism and a dedication to giving their best for the country. These remarks were made during the launch of the My Athlete Centre at the National Sports Council (NSC) Pavilion.

Zii Jia recently confirmed his readiness to assist Malaysia in the 2026 Thomas Cup campaign without making any demands to BAM. On another matter, Mohammed Taufiq announced plans to meet the Road To Gold (RTG) programme committee soon to map out a clearer direction for Malaysia's pursuit of its first Olympic gold medal at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. He assured that there are no changes to the RTG programme for now and pledged ongoing collaboration and discussions to ensure smooth operations and target achievement.

The government has allocated RM12 million for the RTG programme's implementation in 2026. The My Athlete Centre, launched by Dr Mohammed Taufiq, is designed to support athletes' welfare and well-being by providing mental health support and welfare management. The center, with an allocation of RM500,000, offers a modern and relaxed environment for athletes to unwind after training sessions, aiming to help them manage and control stress effectively.