Asian Games squad hit by another major setback
KUALA LUMPUR: After the national contingent lost Datuk Lee Chong Wei for the Asian Games in Jakarta- Palembang this August, the participation of national diver Cheong Jun Hoong becomes a question mark following the left knee injury she suffered over two weeks ago.
This setback will likely affect the medal tally of the national squad at the continent’s largest sports event from Aug 18 to Sept 2.
Contingent head to the Asian Games Datuk Seri Abdul Azim Mohd Zabidi said Jun Hoong’s condition would only be known on Thursday after undergoing an examination with the National Sports Institute ( ISN).
“Of course it will affect the national contingent, but at the same time we have plans to meet the medal target we want,” he told reporters after meeting at Wisma OCM yesterday.
Meanwhi le, the Malaysia Athletics Federation ( MAF) had listed 12 athletes who would take the national challenge to Indonesia later.
Seven athletes were placed under category A including sprinter Zaidatul Husniah Zulkifli and Podium programme high jumper Nauraj Singh Randhawa while the other five were placed under category B including sprinters Khairul Hafiz Jantan and Jonathan Nyepa.
MAF president Datuk Karim Ibrahim also appealed to the Olympic Council of Malaysia ( MOM) to add three more athletes to go to the Asian Games.
They are 110- metre hurdler Rayzam Shah Wan Sofian, pole vaulter Iskandar Alwi and hammer thrower Jackie Wong.