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Irfan questions MAF's 10-gold target

KUALA LUMPUR: National discus thrower Irfan Shamsudin is puzzled by the Malaysian Athletic Federation (MAF)'s 10-gold target for the Phnom Penh Sea Games in May.

Comparatively, Malaysia managed to win only five gold, three silver and eight bronze in track and field at the Hanoi Sea Games last year.

MAF president Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim announced the "unexpected" 10-gold target after the national body's annual general meeting-cum-elections last June.

MAF's 10-gold announcement baffled Irfan considering that Malaysia's track and field team's best achievements in the last 10 Sea Games were eight gold (2003, 2005 and 2017).

The 27-year-old discus champion said MAF should have discussed with the national athletes before announcing their Sea Games targets.

"It would have been nice if they had called the athletes and shared their plans instead of announcing directly to the media. If we (athletes) go directly to the media, they won't like it," said Irfan.

"So, why not you (MAF) come and talk to the athletes and discuss the plans first?

"It makes more sense than announcing 10-gold target. Some of the athletes are in the dark over where the gold medals are coming from.

"Let's say the gold medal is coming from Sarah (Nur Sarah Adi). Then inform Sarah that we want gold from you, and what we can do for you to achieve that.

"You cannot say you are going to get the gold medal. There should be plans, and what are the plans that MAF have prepared for athletes to win the gold medals?"

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