KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 2 — The Malaysian contingent to the Asean Para Games (APG) is targeting 55 gold medals this year, set to take place in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, from January 20 to 26.
Malaysian chef de mission (CDM) for APG Mohd Zarrawi Ravi Abdullah said the target is realistic as it is the result of discussions with stakeholders, despite technical challenges faced by the national athletes.
According to him, swimming and athletics are expected to remain the primary “gold mines” for the country, while badminton, table tennis, and cycling are also relied upon to achieve proud successes.
“In Cambodia, we achieved 50 gold, and this time we want an improvement - we cannot compromise on that. By targeting 55 gold medals, we hope everything goes according to plan,” he said when met by reporters during the CDM’s visit to the Paralympic Excellence Centre in Kampung Pandan here today.
Meanwhile, he noted that the contingent is fully prepared, with most athletes showing high fighting spirit ahead of the biennial event.
However, concerns have surfaced regarding scheduling issues that appear unfavourable to the national camp, particularly in swimming events.
“I noticed the swimming schedule is quite tight; for the S8 category (physical impairment), there are four events in a single day, which I feel is not right as there is no recovery period for the athletes. We will raise this matter during the team managers’ meeting and other platforms,” said Zarrawi.
For the record, the national contingent secured 50 gold, 38 silver, and 35 bronze medals to finish fourth at the 2023 edition in Phnom Penh.
