KUALA LUMPUR, May 20 — Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) president Tan Sri Mohamad Norza Zakaria has called on Malaysian sports fans to have faith in national athletes’ ability to win the country’s first Olympic gold medal at Paris Games this year.
After several athletes boldly declared they would go for gold at the July 26-August 11 event, Norza said he was confident they have the skills necessary to bring home the elusive gold medal.
Track cycling ace Datuk Mohd Azizulhasni Awang, who won the keirin bronze in Rio 2016 and silver in Tokyo 2020, as well as shuttlers Lee Zii Jia (former All England champion) and Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik (2022 men’s doubles world champions) recently announced they were aiming to strike gold at the Paris Games.
“When the athletes themselves announced it (the gold medal target), we could see their sense of competitiveness... a very healthy spirit. We, as administrators, will give full support to them,” Norza, who is also Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) president, said at a press conference after signing a partnership with the National Heart Institute (IJN) here today.
Malaysia have yet to strike gold despite making their Olympic debut in 1956 in Melbourne, with the closest they have come being the four silvers and one bronze they won at Rio 2016.
Eighteen Malaysian athletes from seven sports have qualified for the Paris Games.
Norza said the three-year partnership with IJN, worth RM149,900 per year, comprises medical screenings for 10 national and 60 national junior players under BAM and provides the players with medical coverage.
The partnership, which starts today, will see IJN appointed medical partner for three major international tournaments — the Malaysia Open, the Malaysia Masters and the Malaysia Super 100 — with IJN ambulances on standby during the events.
The six-day Malaysia Masters, starting tomorrow at the Axiata Arena, will be the first tournament to receive IJN’s expertise.
Norza signed the agreement on behalf of BAM, while IJN was represented by its chief executive officer Datuk Dr Aizai Azan Abdul Rahim.
— Bernama
