Asian Games CDM not pushing the panic button just yet
KUALA LUMPUR: Chief-demission Datuk Seri Abdul Azim Mohd Zabidi is not ready to press the panic button even though two gold medal prospects diving queen Cheong Jun Hoong and badminton ace Datuk Lee Chong Wei have withdrawn from the Asian Games in Indonesia with just two weeks left to the event.
Abdul Azim said the situation was not worrying as he was confident other replacement athletes for both sports have the potential to take on the challenges to deliver medals at the Games.
“I do not think the absence of two to three athletes can paralyse our Asian Games contingent. I look at it positively as it is better it happen now so that we could still choose the replacement athletes and prepare them.
“If they were to be injured there, it would be even more difficult,” he told reporters after opening the 18th RSC International Soccer 7s at Royal Selangor Club Kiara Sports Annexe yesterday.
World champion Jun Hoong announced she was pulling out of the Asian Games on Friday after a knee injury forced her out of action for nine months.
Chong Wei withdrew due to a health problem and in the latest turn of event, badminton mixed doubles player Goh Liu Ying will miss the Games after picking up an injury in the ongoing BWF World Championships in Nanjing, China on Friday.
Abdul Azim, who is also the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) deputy president said the contingent has ample time until next week to get replacements from the long list provided by the sports associations. — Bernama