Seven gold medals and a top-10 finish
PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian contingent to the Jakar taPalembang Asian Games, from Aug 18 to Sept 2, is targeting seven gold medals, said Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman.
“The target is seven gold, but, with luck, InsyaAllah, 11 gold,” he said, adding that the contingent also aimed to secure a top-10 finish at the Games.
“The sport events that can give us the gold are cycling, karate, sepak takraw, pencak silat dan tenpin bowling,” he told reporters after handing over the Jalur Gemilang to the contingent at Dataran Perdana, Putra Perdana Building yesterday.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is confident that the Malaysian contingent can clinch a top-10 finish among the 45 competing nations at the Games.
“I am confident this contingent is very capable of a more meaningful achievement, God willing,” the Prime Minister said, recalling that Malaysia were placed 10th at the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, China.
“If Malaysia was able to be among the top 10 in the previous edition of the meet, I don’t see why our team cannot repeat the success in 2018, or do even better,” he said.
If Malaysia was able to be among the top 10 in the previous edition of the meet, I don’t see why our team cannot repeat the success in 2018, or do even better.
Dr Mahathir said Malaysia has world- class athletes in its contingent such as Al Jufferi Jamari ( si lat) , Azizulhasni Awang (cycling), Wong Weng Soon (wushu), women’s bowling squad and the men’s hockey team.
“I am also confident that the selected athletes are the best and capable of bringing glory to the country,” he said.
“Competing ( in the Asian Games) is not just for the rewards and incentives alone, but to have the Jalur Gemilang f ly high in the eyes of the world, to place the nation’s prestige on the world arena,” he added.
Earlier, Syed Saddiq handed the Jalur Gemilang to Dr Mahathir, who then handed over the national flag to Malaysia’s chef-demission to the 2018 Asian Games Datuk Seri Abdul Azim Mohamad Zabidi.
Abdul Azim then handed it over to Malaysia’s flag bearer national
Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Prime Minister
karate athlete Syakilla Salni Jefry Krishnan.
At the same event, Azizulhasni presented the ‘jaket harimau’, the official dress of the Malaysian contingent to the 2018 Asian Games, to Dr Mahathir.
Also present were Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Malaysia Olympic Counci l president Datuk Seri Mohamad Norza Zakaria and other cabinet ministers.
The Malaysian contingent comprises 426 athletes and 140 officers and they will be taking part in 35 of the 40 events at the world’s second largest sports meet. — Bernama