RM2 mln gold bar for Olympic gold

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KUALA LUMPUR: Gold bar-for-gold. That’s what awaits Malaysian shuttlers who deliver gold medals at the upcoming London Olympic Games.

Dangling the carrot at a news conference here yesterday, Kuala Lumpur Rackets Club (KLRC) chief Datuk Seri Andrew Kam said he would be presenting a 12.5kg gold bar worth over RM2 million to gold medal winners.

“If there are more than two gold medal winners, the gold bar will be divided equally,” he said, adding that the gold bar incentive would only be given to badminton players as the sports was his passion.

Throwing his challenge to Malaysian shuttlers to grab the first gold medal at the Olympics for Malaysia, he said that Malaysians would be rooting for badminton players as the fans love the sports very much.

“I can produce gold, I believe they too can produce gold (medal),” said Kam, who owns a gold mine in Raub, Pahang. Kam personally believes Datuk Lee Chong Wei could still be the best medal hope for Malaysia at the Olympics.

“He (Chong Wei) is the best hope for Malaysia. He is the only player who can match Li Dan (of China).

“We too can rely on our mixed doubles (Chan Peng Soon and Goh Liu Ying). We do not know may be they can create a surprise at the Olympics. Our men’s doubles (Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong) also have the potential and they are among the experienced players,” said Kam.

Present at the function was Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) honorary secretary Datuk Sieh Kok Chi and six Olympics-bound players, Chong Wei, Koo Kien Keat, Tan Boon Heong, Chan Peng Soon, Goh Liu Ying and Tee Jing Yi.

On the latest incentive given to the badminton squad, Chong Wei said the incentive would give the team a morale boost. “It is not the first time I have been given a chance to hold the gold bar because when I visited the gold mine I was given a chance to hold the gold bar.

“I hope the second time I hold it, it will be mine,” said Chong Wei in jest.

Meanwhile, Kok Chi noted that incentives given by many private companies for the Olympic-bound athletes would not pressure the athletes in their quest for Malaysia’s first Olympic gold medal.

“I don’t think that the incentives given by private companies would add pressure to the athletes since most of them are seasoned campaigners.

“I believe they will not compete for money but they will do it for the pride of the country. Money is not everything,” said Kok Chi.

Chong Wei and the other five shuttlers bound for the summer Olympics will be leaving to London tomorrow for their final preparations at the Bath University. — Bernama