It’s the nationals, all must compete!

I AM quite appalled by the recent statement made by the Malaysian Athletic Federation (MAF) to its affiliates regarding the National Open Championships. It said the national championships was not a platform for SEA games selection because all entries have been already been finalised and that the meet would be held as a two-day event without heats and the athletes who had already qualified would be gauged for the relays. In other words, the states would not be able to take part in the meet as state representatives as in the past unless they have athletes who have qualified for the top 16 of an event from the various competitions held in the country.

What is appalling is that there are states that do know their athletes are not aiming to qualify for the Sea Games but want to gauge their performance against the best with regard to long-term preparations. Unfortunately, these athletes cannot take part in this meet.

Coaches who have been preparing their athletes in accordance with their periodisation would want them to hit their personal best at this meet, which happens to be the last one for local athletes. In the past, the national meet was the peak competition for all local athletes irrespective of their international objectives.

As an afterthought, I have watched the United States organising its trials for the two big internationals – the Olympics and the World championships. All of their athletes are allowed to compete; there is no priority for those who qualified before the stipulated dates.

Perhaps the MAF is worried that the selected athletes who had gone on training and competition stints overseas might lose out to unknowns.

RUDRA Alor Setar