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    21 August 2012| last updated at 09:17PM

    'Malaysia's paralympic athletes better prepared for London'



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    PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia's elite paralympic athletes are more prepared to face the Paralympic Games in London compared to the previous edition in Beijing, China, four years ago.

     

    National Sports Council (NSC) director Datuk Seri Zolkples Embong said: "They are better prepared for the event in London. The athletes have also had a more systematic training programme with the NSC having taken over preparations from the Malaysian Paralympic Council.
     
    "Under the NSC programme, we have sent some of the athletes for overseas training. They may just spring a surprise in London."
     
    He was speaking to reporters at the Hari Raya celebration with the paralympic athletes here today. 
     
    The event was also attended by family members and friends of the paralympic athletes who will be taking on the challenge of the London Paralympic Games from Aug 29-Sept 9.
     
    The celebration was part of the programme of activities in the last phase of the week-long training from Aug 11 here.
     
    Zolklpes, who is also the Chef-de-Mission of the Malaysian Contingent to the London Games, said based on the training programme undertaken, he was confident that the athletes could improve on the one silver and one bronze performance of the Barcelona Games.
     
    "Maybe, we will get to hear the Negaraku in London, after our Olympic athletes failed to succeed in this effort," he added.
     
    The Malaysian contingent comprises 23 athletes participating in eight sports out of the 20 to be contested in London.
     
    Among the sports seen as medal prospects are archery, athletics, powerlifting and table tennis.
     
    The paralympic contingent leave for London tonight and will be there a week earlier to undertake training and also get used to the conditions there.
     
    Two cyclists, Mohd Khairul Hazwan Wahab and Khairul Naim Azhar, however left for London this morning. -- BERNAMA
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