Put national interest first, sports associations told
Published on: Thursday, December 22, 2016
Kuala Lumpur: All sports associations have been urged to put the national interest first in facing the challenges at the 29th SEA Games and 9th Asean Para Games, which to be held here next year. Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin also warned all sports associations to set aside political differences and not to practice favouritism in selecting the best athletes for the two biennial games.Khairy said the national spirit among athletes was very important to ensure Malaysia emerged as the overall champion of the games.
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"Most sports associations give good cooperation but still there is one or two troubled associations. So, I want to take this opportunity to remind them that the national interest is the main goal of SEA Games and the Asean Para Games, not favouritism and politics. "The national interest should be above everything else and I'm ready to intervene in accordance with existing regulations to ensure that they conform to the national interest," he told reporters delivering his message to the national SEA Games and Asean Para Games contingents here. Kuala Lumpur will host the 29th SEA Games from Aug 19 to 31 and the 9th Asean Para Games from Sept 17 to 23 next year.
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Khairy also wanted associations and coaches to have good communication with the athletes by accepting their opinions. "I hope there will be clear communication among athletes, coaches and sports associations. Athletes nowadays are not like before, they are university graduates," he said.
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Meanwhile, the national karate squad is determined to repeat their success as overall champions during the Myanmar SEA Games in 2013 in the 29th edition of the competition in Kuala Lumpur next year. Team manager Nik Ismail Rashid said the target set for the karate squad was six gold medals from 16 events. In Myanmar 2013, the karate squad contributed seven gold medals, while the sport was not included in the 2015 edition held in Sigapore. "No doubt the 19 athletes who will compete in the SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur will want to perform well in front of the local supporters. Performing at home is also an advantage for the national athletes. "Both senior and junior athletes will be taking part this time. I expect to have at least six junior athletes for the Kumite discipline. The final list of athletes will be known by the third phase of preparation ahead of the SEA Games next year," he said at a press conference held in conjunction with the 'Kita Juara' (We are Champions) phase two athletes' gathering here. Nik Ismail said that in preparation for the games, the karate squad had practised and competed in Europe, with athletes from Vietnam and Indonesia also in attendance. "The competition from Southeast Asian countries is great. They also practise in Europe to gain exposure. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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