TANIA TEOH
“There were many naysayers when I chose to build my career in sports, but I decided to listen to my gut and focus on what I truly believe in: ‘Sports & Myself’. Eventually, the naysayers turned into YAY-sayers.”
Meet Tania, a sports enthusiast dedicated to maintaining a healthy lifestyle through various sports. Born and raised in Malaysia, where she was a professional badminton player, Tania moved to Switzerland and has now settled in Denmark. She is a sports entrepreneur, the founder of 'Tania Teoh' and a part time badminton coach.
BELIEVE IN SPORTS
“From being a professional badminton player representing Malaysia, to transitioning into a sports administrator as the first Malaysian woman employed by the International Olympic Committee, and now building my own company from Denmark, my message is to believe in yourself and believe in sports.”
TOGETHER WE THRIVE
“‘Together, We Thrive’ is the tagline of my company, and I truly believe in the power of progression and improvement when we cooperate. There is not only one gold medal in the sports industry. There are enough gold medals for everyone who puts their minds and hearts into it. Let’s continue to support each other, including our male colleagues, towards the numerous gold medals up for grabs.”
DETERMINATION TO WIN
“Since choosing to focus only on badminton at age 12, the Olympics has always been my aim. During my training in the little town of Sibu, I trained mainly with boys. I remember some boys didn’t like to play against me because they thought I was ‘weaker’. However, I made it a point to give my best and eventually, I beat them on the court. After that, they never looked at me the same way when they were asked to train or play singles against me. These experiences made me realise that when I want something and work towards it, I can achieve wonders. It reinforced in me that even though they are boys, or the opponents are ranked higher, I can beat them with hard work, determination, and willpower.”
DESIGNING A SAFE & WELCOMING CULTURE
“Providing a safe and healthy environment for athletes to train is crucial in keeping them in sport. Coaches and team leaders must walk the talk and set good examples to create such an environment. Setting the right training culture and being clear about the non-negotiables is essential so that everyone in the team thrives.”
