XXXIII Olympic Games Paris 2024 – Chef De Mission Visit

Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin, Chef de Mission of the Malaysian Contingent to the XXXIII Olympic Games Paris 2024, kick-started his duties as the head of the contingent by visiting the Badminton Team at the PETRONAS Akademi Badminton Malaysia on Wednesday, 12th April 2023.

Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin, who was accompanied by his deputy, Datuk Nicol Ann David, was warmly welcomed by Dato’ Kenny Goh Chee Keong, Secretary General of the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) and Ms. Michelle Chai Han Ching, CEO of the Akademi Badminton Malaysia.

They spent about two hours observing the training sessions and later held a closed-door briefing with the Badminton players of the Road to Gold (RTG) Programme to get to know each of them better.

“I have accepted the appointment as the Chef de Mission with pride and honour as it is a heavy responsibility given to me by the Government of Malaysia and the OCM”,

“I have urged all the Badminton players in the RTG Programme to give their very best in the next 15 months towards the Paris Olympics” stated Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin.

The eight-time World Champion in Squash, Datuk Nicol Ann David, also encouraged the Badminton players to value and appreciate the opportunity given to them to compete in the Olympic Games as it does not come easily.

“Set your mind up to take every tournament like you are competing in Olympic Games”,

“I hope all of you would push to the last few hurdles to achieve the gold medal target in the Olympic Games” advised Datuk Nicol Ann David to all the Badminton players.

The Badminton players formed the majority of athletes named in the RTG Programme. They are: Lee Zii Jia (Men’s Singles), Aaron Chia Teng Fong and Soh Wooi Yik (Men’s Doubles), Ong Yew Sin and Teo Ee Yi (Men’s Doubles), Pearly Tan Koong Le and Thinaah Muralitharan (Women’s Doubles), Tan Kian Meng and Lai Pei Jing (Mixed Doubles) and Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Jemie Lai (Mixed Doubles).

The qualifying process for Badminton to the Paris Olympics will kick off on 1st May 2023, with every nation permitted to enter a maximum of two (2) representatives for each event.

To add fun to the visit, Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin and Datuk Nicol Ann David spent a few minutes sparring with Aaron Chia and Tan Kian Meng.

Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin also gave his assurance to the other sports which may have potentially qualified for the Paris Olympics that they are included in his Chef de Mission’s visiting calendar.

: The Chef de Mission Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin (left) and the Deputy Chef de Mission Datuk Nicol Ann David (right).

: Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin and Datuk Nicol Ann David having discussions with the officials of the PETRONAS Akademi Badminton Malaysia namely Ms. Michelle Chai Han Ching (CEO), Mr. Wong Choong Hann (Director of Coaching – Singles) and Mr. Rexy Mainaky (Director of Coaching – Doubles).

: Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin and Datuk Nicol Ann David having a chat with Ng Tze Yong.

: Aaron Chia Teng Fong-Soh Wooi Yik (facing camera) having their training session.

: Ms. Michelle Chai Han Ching introducing the Badminton players to Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin and Datuk Nicol Ann David.

: Some of the Badminton players of the RTG Programme Front row (L-R): Thinaah Muralitharan, Pearly Tan Koong Le, Lai Pei Jing & Shevon Jemie Lai. Back row (L-R): Aaron Chia Teng Fong, Soh Wooi Yik, Ong Yew Sin & Tan Kian Meng.