MALAYSIA are not expecting a huge medal haul although they will be sending their biggest contingent outside the country to the Philippines Sea Games on Nov 30-Dec 11.
National Sports Council (NSC) director-general Datuk Ahmad Shapawi Ismail said this was because most of the events that helped Malaysia win gold in the previous editions will not be contested this year.
Yesterday, the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) confirmed that Malaysia will be represented by 795 athletes and 398 officials at the Games.
Malaysia will be involved in 52 out of 56 sports.
Malaysia’s previous biggest contingent outside the country was 1,114 at the 2007 Games in Korat, Thailand, and their biggest haul was at the 2017 edition in Kuala Lumpur when they won 145 gold medals.
“This year’s contingent is definitely the biggest we’re sending outside the country, therefore expectations are high from the public for us to deliver.
“But I must admit that we will not be able to achieve the 145 gold medals we won at the 2017 edition,” said Shapawi, who was present to witness a Memorandum of Understanding signing ceremony between Gardenia Bakeries (KL) Sdn Bhd, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and the NSC in Bukit Jalil.
“We need to understand that we have two sets of athletes comprising those under category A (fully funded) and category B (self-funded but will be reimbursed if medals are won).
“There are no expectations on the category B athletes but for those who qualified under category A, they must at least deliver a bronze.
“There are a lot of new sports and events that were not contested in the previous editions. The Philippines have included sports that suit their strategy and target.
“The Sea Games this year doesn't give us an advantage. Of course, I do not want the athletes to use that as an excuse but instead justify why they deserve to be part of the programme.
“Our next main programme is for the 2022 Asian Games (China), so the athletes have got to start proving themselves from now. Our next review will be after the Sea Games to see if we want to retain or drop them from the Podium Programme,” Shapawi added.
On the collaboration with Gardenia and UKM, Shapawi said: “Our role is to assist with the existing research between Gardenia and UKM.
“As the body that manages the national athletes' programme, we want to see how the new concept could be applicable when it comes to the performances of athletes.
“For now, we will try the product (low Glycemic Index bread) with some of the gymnasts. We will start next week and from there we will monitor to see if it’s suitable or not.
“We have started with gymnastics because it is a weight-control sport,” he added.