Malaysia’s Youth and Sports Minister has defended her photo with Thailand’s shuttler Kunlavut Vitidsarn, who won a silver Olympic medal, saying Malaysia is not a “sore loser” after the Thai badminton player defeated Lee Zii Jia.
According to Malay Mail Online, , Hannah Yeoh said on Instagram that, as a youth minister, it is her task to instill a culture of healthy competition and that it is not about winning at all costs.
“We are not sore losers. There is nothing insensitive about acknowledging our rival’s strength after the competition,” Yeoh wrote.
Yeoh was recently criticized for posting a photo with Kunlavut, saying she “enjoyed his style of badminton so much” and that he “has a new fan” in her.
The online report explained that her comment was in response to Kunlavut — aged 23 and ranked 8th — when he defeated China’s Shi Yuqi 21-12, 21-10.
Kunlavut had previously defeated Malaysia’s badminton champ, Lee, 21-14, 21-15. Lee later won the bronze medal after beating India’s Lakshya Sen.
Screengrab from Yeoh’s instagram
Yeoh had earlier told her critics to understand the Olympic values of respect and friendship, and to set rivalries aside.
She also compared this to how she had congratulated Tan Kim Her and Jeremy Gan, the Malaysian coaches of the Japanese badminton doubles teams.
“Young people, be brave enough to call out what is good. If you sit around fearing social media comments, you allow opportunities to display exemplary acts to slip by.”
Sports teach us invaluable lessons about life, and this is why parents must encourage children to participate in sports. They become stronger when they practice good sportsmanship, the online quoted Yeoh as saying.
