Terengganu expect more gold medals

2009/11/21

MORE gold medals await de - fending champions Terengganu in the 13th edition of
the Malaysia Games in Malacca next year. State Sports Council director Rosdi Awang said at least 20 more gold medals could be expected with the inclu - sion of canoeing and Formula Future.

“When we were champi - ons at home last year, 14 of our 61 gold medals came from canoeing and we were devastated when Malacca initially decided to drop the spor t,” said Rosdi.

But Rosdi said he was relieved and happy when the hosts later agreed to add 11 other sports — canoe, formula future, volleyball, judo, fencing, tennis, kabaddi, golf, water polo and rhythmic swimming. Rosdi said Terengganu pilots had long dominated Formula Future racing and claims they could win their fair share of the 15 gold medals at stake.

“With two of our favourite sports back in the Games, we are nownot only confident of defending our title but will try to improve on our tally of 61 gold, 39 silver and 47 bronze medals.

“Chances are, we can manage that as more than 90 per cent of our gold medallists from the previous Games are still eligible to take part in next year's edition.” — ZAINUDDIN MUHAMMAD