KUALA LUMPUR, July 11 (Bernama) -- Former national doubles player Razif Sidek wants national shuttlers to make the Olympic Games as the best platform to create a name for the country in the international stage.
Citing shuttlers in the 1980s to 1990s era as an example, the Barcelona 1992 Olympics bronze medallist said, the high level of commitment and dedication shown by the players of that era was just to establish the country as a powerhouse in the world badminton arena.
"We played with full of spirit for the sake of the country in the past. During my era in the early 1990s, there were not much of incentives given by the government or private bodies...
"But if we look at the current scenario, there are a lot of remuneration awaiting athletes," he told Bernama when asked to comment on the offer of a 12.5kg gold bar worth over RM2 million by the Kuala Lumpur Rackets Club (KLRC) Chief Datuk Seri Andrew Kam, to gold medal winning shuttlers in London.
However, Razif was confident that the badminton squad, particularly singles champion Datuk Lee Chong Wei's ability to win the country's first Olympic gold medal, based on his previous performances.
Citing shuttlers in the 1980s to 1990s era as an example, the Barcelona 1992 Olympics bronze medallist said, the high level of commitment and dedication shown by the players of that era was just to establish the country as a powerhouse in the world badminton arena.
"We played with full of spirit for the sake of the country in the past. During my era in the early 1990s, there were not much of incentives given by the government or private bodies...
"But if we look at the current scenario, there are a lot of remuneration awaiting athletes," he told Bernama when asked to comment on the offer of a 12.5kg gold bar worth over RM2 million by the Kuala Lumpur Rackets Club (KLRC) Chief Datuk Seri Andrew Kam, to gold medal winning shuttlers in London.
However, Razif was confident that the badminton squad, particularly singles champion Datuk Lee Chong Wei's ability to win the country's first Olympic gold medal, based on his previous performances.
-- BERNAMA
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