National contingent targets 15 gold at Asian Para Games
KUALA LUMPUR: The national contingent is targeting 15 gold medals at the 2018 Asian Para Games in Jakarta, Indonesia which will take place from October 6 to 13.
Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman announced the target at the handing over of the Jalur Gemilang to the Malaysian contingent to the 2018 Asian Para Games at the Malaysia Paralympic Sports Excellence Centre Kampung Pandan yesterday.
Although the target was equal to the achievement in Incheon, South Korea in 2014, he said it was not impossible for the national contingent to achieve more than targeted.
“This target is made after having a discussion with the Malaysian Paralympic Council (MPM), the National Sports Council (MSN) and the National Sports Institute (ISN).
“But with the blazing enthusiasm of the athletes and in terms of preparation, I am confident they can do better,” he told reporters after a ceremony to hand over the Jalur Gemilang to the national contingent by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.
Syed Saddiq said the national contingent was banking on the athletics events, tenpin bowling and badminton to bring in the gold medals.
“The main focus is definitely on our para athletes like Mohamad Ridzuan Mohamad Puzi, Muhammad Ziyad Zolkefli and Abdul Latif Romly,” he said.
Meanwhile, Syed Saddiq also had good news for the national para athletes about the equality of rewards between para athletes and normal athletes.
“It’s a good policy to maintain that the para athletes’ rewards are the same as normal athletes,” he said.
Syed Saddiq also sought cooperation from the media to provide the same coverage to the national para athletes as when covering the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta-Palembang last month.
“We admit they are extraordinary, so the coverage should be extraordinary,” he said.
Earlier, in his speech, Syed Saddiq said the national para athletes not only represented certain groups only but represented more than 32 million Malaysians.
He said para athletes were also national fighters who opened the eyes of all Malaysians that disabled athletes could also shine internationally.
“I know how difficult it is to go through various obstacles to bring home the gold from the para Paralympic Games. I hope their blazing spirit will be brought to Jakarta,” he said. - Bernama