New training method showing results
more than three months of intensive sposts science training, Malaysia’s sport climbing team are ready to deliver medals at the Jakarta Asian Games.
National Sports Science officials have been guiding the athletes, and there has been a marked improvement compared to the traditional training methods used by the climbers earlier.
Six gold medals are up for grabs in the sport climbing events in Jakarta, and these include speed climbing, speed relay and combined climbing in both men’s and women’s categories.
And Malaysia will be looking to speed climbing for medals, as comparisons with other athletes at the recent Asia Cup indicated that the gap is not far off.
“Other than speed, discipline is also paramount. And after sports science training was introduced to the athletes, they have caught up and we are 99 per cent sure of winning a medal.
“Right now, the athletes are ready and we are conducting light training to avoid injuries and hopefully, the athletes perform to expectations on tournament day,” said climbing national coach Roslan Rasli.
Going by ranking, Taqiuddin Zulkifli and Izzat Shokor look the best bets for medals, while in the women’s category Tan Jie Yi is Malaysia’s best hope.
In the Kuala Lumpur Sea Games last year, the sport only managed to contribute a silver in speed relay, and two bronze medals in boulder and lead.