PARALYMPICS: Well prepared for a good show in London

MALAYSIA will be represented by their best ever prepared disabled athletes at the London Paralympics on Aug 29-Sept 9.

Chef-de-Mission Datuk Zolkples Embong said most of the 22 athletes, who left for London yesterday, have been preparing for the last four years.

"We are expecting athletes from archery, athletics, power-lifting and table tennis to make an impression on their respective events," said Zolkples at a Hari Raya tea reception for the London-bound athletes in Putrajaya yesterday.

"Most of them have been training full-time since the Beijing edition under our elite programme.

"I believe our athletes are better prepared this time. We are sending a small contingent as we do not have many disabled athletes in Malaysia."

With an improved incentive scheme, where disabled athletes stand to earn RM300,000 for a gold medal, RM200,000 for silver and RM100,000 for bronze, it will spur them to do their best in London.

Malaysia made their Paralympic Games debut in 1972 in Heidelberg with a delegation of three athletes who competed in athletics and weightlifting but were absent from the following three editions before making their return in 1988 in Seoul. Since then, Malaysia have participated in every subsequent Games.

The Malaysian Paralympic contingent have earned one silver and four bronze medals to date. Powerlifter Siow Lee Chan was Malaysia's first woman Paralympic medallist, winning a bronze in Beijing four years ago. By Ajitpal Singh

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PARALYMPICS: Well prepared for a good show in London

MALAYSIA will be represented by their best ever prepared disabled athletes at the London Paralympics on Aug 29-Sept 9.

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