Norza: Only quality athletes for Asian Games
are not expected to send a big contingent to the Indonesia Asian Games in August following the Olympic Council of Malaysia’s (OCM) decision to change the qualification criterion.
OCM president Datuk Seri Norza Zakaria said his council decided on this as they only want quality athletes to compete in Indonesia.
“The new criteria has probably caused discontent among the national sports associations (NSAs). We, however, have explained the situation and the constraints we are facing to them,” said Norza after OCM’s selection committee meeting yesterday.
“If we receive more funding we will consider those under category B.”
Yesterday, OCM announced that only those who meet the topfour mark of the 2014 Incheon Asian Games will qualify under the all-expenses paid category A.
Several NSAs were taken aback as the previous criterion was top-six.
However, those, who do not make it under category A, can still travel to the Asian Games under category B, provided their respective NSAs agree to pay for their trip.
In 2014, Malaysia sent 277 athletes to Incheon where they failed to make an impact, winning just five gold, 14 silver and 14 bronze.
Meanwhile, National Sports Council (NSC) director general Datuk Ahmad Shapawi Ismail said the new qualifying criterion was introduced after also taking into consideration results at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in April.
“This is one way to get the NSAs to double up their efforts in ensuring their athletes win more medals in Indonesia,” said Shapawi.
“We used the top six qualification criterion for the Commonwealth Games and the results were not so good.
Malaysia sent 177 athletes to Gold Coast in April where they won seven gold, five silver and 12 bronze.
Shapawi hopes this new criterion will be maintained for future games.
“The Commonwealth Games along with the Asian Games and the Olympics are not platforms for exposure,” he added.
“We have other platforms (for exposure) such as the Sea Games and also those organised by NSAs.”