KUALA LUMPUR: Leading electrical appliances company Senheng Electric (KL) Sdn Bhd has not only made Chen Tang Jie RM100,000 richer but also dangled a RM1 million carrot to him, Soh Wooi Yik and Man Wei Chong if they can win gold at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and beyond.
Senheng executive chairman Lee Kim Heng said the reward will only be given to players who graduated from Petaling Badminton Club’s (Petaling BC) SS Junior Talent Scholarship Programme — making Tang Jie, Wooi Yik and Wei Chong the only ones eligible for the lucrative incentive.
If any of the trio succeed at the 2028 Los Angeles Games, each will become an instant multi-millionaire.
There has already been success, with Wooi Yik partnering Aaron Chia to win Malaysia’s first world badminton title when they captured the men’s doubles crown in Tokyo in 2022, while Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei became the nation’s first mixed doubles world champions in Paris on Aug 31.
“Senheng will reward RM1 million to any player from the SS Junior Programme who wins Olympic gold,” said Kim Heng at the Academy Badminton Malaysia (ABM) on Thursday.
“We specifically started our programme, which was initiated by Petaling BC and ran for six years, to recognise players who have graduated into the national team.
“Our reward is not just restricted to one Olympics. As long as the three players continue playing, if they can win in 2032, they will still get RM1 million for the gold.
“Although their current partners are not part of our programme, we will give something when the time comes, but I don’t want to promise anything in advance.”
This means Aaron Chia, Tang Jie’s partner Ee Wei and Wei Chong’s partner Tee Kai Wun are not eligible for Senheng’s reward scheme.
Kim Heng said Senheng had invested around RM12 million in the SS Junior Programme, which ran from 2011 to 2017.
Tang Jie, who joined the programme at 15 and stayed until 19 (2013-2017), said the Olympic scheme was a good motivation.
“Winning Olympic gold is the dream of every shuttler, and the RM1 million incentive from Senheng is a big motivation,” said Tang Jie.
“We will always fight for the country and go all out to win Malaysia’s first gold at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.”
He also paid tribute to the SS Junior Programme, where he trained under Yap Kim Hock and his assistant Rommy Arnold during his formative years.
“I owe a lot to Rommy, from whom I learnt so much during the first three years, while Kim Hock guided me when I was 19. If not for the two coaches, I would not have become world champion with Ee Wei.
“Credit must also go to BAM for shaping us into world champions now,” added Tang Jie.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
