Malaysia have chance to become champions

Malaysia look capable of emerging as overall champions of the 10th Asean School Games which begin today.

When Malaysia last held the Games, in 2010, the country came out tops with 46 gold, 37 silver and 24 bronze medals.

This year’s edition will see 123 medals being contested in 11 sports: artistic gymnastics, athletics, badminton, basketball, volleyball, table tennis, netball, sepak takraw, swimming, gymrama and squash.

However, two-time consecutive champion, Thailand, should not be underestimated while last year’s runners-up Indonesia voiced a stern warning as they target being overall champions.

The strength of the national contingent will rest on squash as they are not expected to face any problems in making a clean sweep of the seven gold medals at stake.

Athletics will also be in the spotlight as it offers 38 gold medals and the country is expecting to take home at least 13.

Malaysian contingent chief, Zainal Abas said the netball team are expected to win a gold medal.

He said Malaysia can emerge as the overall champions if they win one-third of the total gold medals on offer, which is around 40.

The 10th Asean School Games were officiated by Education Minister, Dr Maszlee Malik at the Dewan Agung Tuanku Canselor Universiti Teknologi MARA yesterday.

A total of 1,609 athletes and officials from 10 Southeast Asian countries – Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, Cambodia, Lao, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam – will participate in the five-day event.

National gymrama athlete, Izzah Amzan, who won four gold medals at last year’s edition in Singapore as well as two gold at the 2017 Sea Games, was given the honour of reciting the pledge while triple and long jumper, Muhammad Nazri Mustafa was Malaysia’s flag bearer.