Congratulations, you're a millionaire - Yeoh tells gold medallist

Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh has congratulated national para badminton ace Cheah Liek Hou on becoming a millionaire after clinching Malaysia’s first gold medal in the Paralympics in France.

She said under the Sports Victory Prize Scheme (Shakam) incentive, national para athletes who win the gold medal would receive the same reward as those who competed in the Olympics which is RM1 million.

“Just like the Olympics, the gold medal winner in the Paralympics will get RM1 million and the coach will receive 20 percent from the Shakam amount.

“This is Cheah’s (above) second gold medal so he is a millionaire. Syabas and congratulations,” she was quoted as saying by Sinar Harian.

As for another national shuttler Muhammad Fareez Anuar, Yeoh said he and the others should not feel crestfallen because the next Paralympics in Los Angeles is in four years.

“They are still young and LA 28 is waiting for them,” she added.

Fareez had lost 12-21, 21-14, 6-21 to Indonesian Suryo Nugroho in the semi-final, which dashed hopes for an all Malaysian final.

Yeoh also said she felt excited to hear the national anthem “Negaraku” being played at Porte de La Chapelle Arena, Paris, during the medal presentation.

Reward doubled

Previously, Malaysia’s top men’s doubles pair Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik were awarded RM100,000 each under Shakam for their bronze medal win at the Paris Olympics.

Yeoh said the government decided to double the reward to RM100,000 each, compared to the RM50,000 awarded after their bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics 2020.

“Both of them fought equally hard. For now, we treat this as a case by case first (giving RM100,000 each).

“This is the second time they have brought a (Olympic) medal for the country so we believe it is right to give them RM100,000 each,” she added.

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