KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 7 — The Youth and Sports Ministry (KBS), through the National Sports Council (NSC), will hold a post-mortem on the national athletes’ performance at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games on November 14 to ensure more detailed planning ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics (LA28).
Its minister Hannah Yeoh said the session would be held with representatives from the Olympic Council of Malaysia, National Sports Associations, team coaches, contingent secretariat, the National Sports Institute, and the NSC.
“This session will also involve the Finance Ministry and the Economy Ministry, as well as representatives from local universities and the media,” she said during the question-and-answer session at the Dewan Rakyat here today.
She was replying to a question from Ramkarpal Singh (PH-Bukit Gelugor) about how the government will improve the performance of the country’s athletes.
Hannah said that in the Paris Olympics, though 15 athletes made their debut, their achievements have given the Malaysian contingent fresh hope to shine at LA28.
She said this was proven by the success of the national athletes, including 21-year-old weightlifter Aniq Kasdan, in breaking three national records, while Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah, aged 23 and 24, became the first women’s pair to reach the badminton semi-finals, in addition to shuttler Lee Zii Jia winning bronze in the men’s singles event.
Commenting on the effectiveness of the Road to Gold (RTG) Project, she said the programme spans the Paris Games and LA28.
“The RTG Committee has approved a new initiative, namely the RTG Fast Track Programme for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, with six young athletes aged below 25 from squash and diving chosen for the programme.
“We expect the number to increase following the improved performances of several youngsters, such as track cyclist Nurul Izzah Izzati Mohd Asri, as well as women’s archers Syaqiera Mashayikh, Ariana Nur Dania Mohamad Zairi and Nurul Azreena Mohamad Fazil, who are ranked among the top 20 in the world,” she said.
She added that the NSC will also focus on new sports like skateboarding, climbing and surfing as these sports are viewed as potential medal contributors.
She said that, in addition, sports that offer multiple medals and weight categories as well as those involving women athletes would also be given attention.
“The ministry, through the NSC, spent about RM20.1 million this year (for the RTG and Podium Programme) for the athletes to qualify and prepare for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
“As for the RTG alone, RM13.2 million was spent this year to prepare for the Paris Olympics. The RTG’s accounts are being audited and I will disclose them at the Dewan Rakyat once (the audit) is completed,” she said.
— Bernama
