KUALA LUMPUR, March 10 (Bernama) -- Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh has expressed confidence in the leadership of Datuk Ahmad Shapawi Ismail as the new chairman of the National Athletes Welfare Foundation (YAKEB).
She said the former National Sports Council (NSC) director-general's vast experience in sports administration would come in handy in protecting the welfare of former national athletes and ensuring they receive proper support.
"I have appointed him because of his experience regarding athletes in the country. I have also appointed other former athletes to help him out.
"So, with the new leadership in place, I wish to thank (former YAKEB chairman) Datuk Noorul (Ariffin Abdul Majeed) for his services. I believe the good measures put in place by Datuk Noorul will be maintained by Datuk Ahmad Shapawi,” she said.
She said this after officiating the launch of the Pickleball Stadium at the Kenanga Wholesale City Fashion Mall here today.
On Sunday (March 9), Ahmad Shapawi was officially appointed to succeed Noorul Ariffin, who had helmed YAKEB since 2019.
He will be supported by the YAKEB board of directors for the 2025-2027 term, including Hafiz Mat Ramly (Principal Assistant Secretary, Ministry of Finance); Chan Hong Jin (Deputy Secretary-General [Strategic], KBS); and Dr Ahmad Munawwar Helmi Salim (Director, National Sports Institute).
Other board members include Normala Abdul Rashid (former national footballer/President of Srikandi Sports and Charity Club); Sharon Wee Ee Li (former national squash player/Vice-President 1 of the Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia); R. Sharmendran (former national karate exponent/acting head coach of the national karate squad); and former national shuttler Soo Beng Kiang.
In another development, Hannah is confident that the national shuttlers can produce positive results in the 2025 All England Badminton Championships, which will begin in Birmingham, England, tomorrow.
"We have new coaches and many professional shuttlers representing the country. I am confident that they only need to be calm and give their best… they have the skills, (they) just need a bit of composure (to face the challenges in the All England),” she said.
-- BERNAMA
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