‘Sports devt for wealth of talent top priority for M’sia’

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Ahmad Shapawi Ismail welcomes the government’s desire to focus on sports development, after declining an offer to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

The former National Sports Council (MSN) director believes the development of sports at an internal level is more important in ensuring there is no dearth of local talents in Malaysia.

According to him, the cancellation of event at a sports meet due to lack of participation needs serious attention.

“It’s important to ensure the development of athletes can be done more aggressively and more balanced between states.

“This is to ensure there is continuity in the production of athletes, which will improve the local competitive environment in producing a wealth of new talents,” he told Bernama.

He said the lack of athletes at the Sukma level is a serious matter that requires an integrated approach by stakeholders at the school, higher education institutions and the state government levels.

“All states should have a State Sports School which is equivalent to the Malaysian Sports School by now. Weak state sports bodies will inhibit the development of athletes at this grassroots level.

“It would be better if more allocations are provided to help the development of integrated sports at every age level so that they can represent the country later,” he said.

On Friday, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, in a statement, said that Malaysia has rejected the offer by the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

It said the decision was made at a Cabinet after considering all aspects of hosting the Games and their implications. — Bernama