SHAH ALAM, July 27 — Standardising victory incentives for athletes competing in the 22nd Malaysia Games (SUKMA) and Para SUKMA is expected to further motivate Selangor athletes to win gold medals for the state contingent.
Selangor Action Council for Disabled Persons (MTOS) chairman Danial Al-Rashid said the early announcement by Menteri Besar Dato' Seri Amirudin Shari is a positive development that reflected the state government's commitment to equality between able-bodied and para athletes.
"At the Para SUKMA in Sarawak two years ago, athletes did not know how much incentives they would receive. It was only announced after we returned.
"If we compete without knowing the amount of the incentive, our motivation may not be as high. Now that it has been announced in advance and standardised, I think it is a positive development.
"At least both our able-bodied and para athletes know beforehand what to expect. However, incentives or money are not the main objective, because all of our athletes have their own motivation to contribute medals and achieve victory," he told Media Selangor.
Danial added that he also received updates on the preparations of Selangor's para athletes from the state's Para SUKMA chef-de-mission Lim Yi Wei.
"So far, the para athletes' preparations are on track," he said.
The Batu Tiga state assemblyman, who is also the patron of Selangor's football and sepak takraw teams, said both squads were training intensively ahead of the Games.
"We are targeting as many gold medals as possible. Preparations for football and sepak takraw are at the highest level, with comprehensive training and facilities," he said.
Recently, Amirudin announced that Selangor athletes who win gold medals would receive incentives ranging from RM2,000 to RM5,000, depending on the category, if the state emerges as the overall SUKMA champion.
Those competing in individual events and three-member team events will each receive RM15,000, while members of teams with fewer than 10 athletes will each receive RM10,000, and members of teams with more than 10 athletes will each receive RM7,000.
Approximately 1,029 athletes and officials will represent Selangor at the 22nd SUKMA, which will be held from August 15 to August 24, while the Para SUKMA contingent will comprise 258 athletes and officials to represent the state from September 5 to September 14.
