Hannah Yeoh, Minister of Youth and Sports Malaysia, is committed to ensuring her legacy centers on empowering former athletes to mentor and support active and upcoming athletes. She believes that the experience and understanding these former athletes possess make them invaluable to the sports ecosystem.
One of Hannah’s primary goals before completing her term is to place the right individuals in the right roles within the sports community. While she emphasizes the importance of these strategic appointments, she also respects the democratic process in selecting certain positions.
Reflecting on her involvement in the 2024 Paris Olympics, Hannah shared that she spent significant time with Malaysian squash legend Datuk Nicol Ann David, who served as the Deputy Chair of the Malaysian Contingent. Hannah expressed her hope that Nicol would continue to play a key role in developing the country’s sports landscape.
During her tenure, Hannah has appointed many former top athletes to key positions. She mentioned that in the Road To Gold committee, she is supported by former athletes like badminton legend Lee Chong Wei, Nicol Ann David, and former national hockey player Mirnawan Nawawi.
Additionally, Olympians Suriaghandi Suppiah and Lee Chong Wei have been assisting at the Majlis Sukan Negara, while Datuk Marina Chin and Nicol Ann David are involved with the Institut Sukan Negara.
Further, Hannah appointed former swimming champion Nurul Huda as Chair of the Sukan Selamat Bureau. She also mentioned the involvement of sports administrators such as Datuk Seri Windsor John from the Asian Football Confederation, associated with the Stadium Perbadanan Malaysia, and Datuk Stuart Ramalingam, who is coordinating the Road to Gold program.
Hannah Yeoh’s efforts reflect her dedication to utilizing the expertise of former athletes to foster sports development and ensure a strong future for Malaysian sports.
Source : BERNAMA
Credit Photo : FB Hannah Yeoh
