Cagers shooting for gold
Recent loss drives team to aim for top spot in five-on-five event
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian wheelchair basketball team will stay focused on winning gold in the five-on-five event and not be hampered by its loss to Thailand in the three-on-three.
Team captain Ahmad Nazri Hamzah said the team had given Thailand a tough fight although it had been a while since they faced the northern neighbours in a match.
“We gave our best but it was not our rezeki to win. Our aim now is to win the five-on-five match.
“From today’s experience we will improve in our next game,” he said after Malaysia lost the three-onthree game 5-12 to Thailand to earn a silver medal at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre here yesterday.
The team will face Singapore today in the five-on-five wheelchair basketball event, which will end tomorrow.
Ahmad Nazri apologised for the defeat but promised that the players would be in high spirits for the next game.
“We will do our best and try to deliver a surprise performance for all Malaysians,” he said.
Coach Abbas Aghakouchaki said Thailand had a slight advantage as their players were “taller and faster” than the Malaysians.
“We have been working hard and have improved from our last match.
“In the future, we will work harder and do better. I assure you, we will play better when we face Singapore,” he said.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who was present at the game, congratulated the Malaysian team for winning silver and giving a boost to their compatriots to perform well in other events.
“I hope all Malaysians will continue to give their full support to our athletes until the end of the games,” he said.
Also present were Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin and former prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
Meanwhile, Malaysia has been given the thumbs-up for organising the 9th Asean Para Games without any major glitches.
Asean Para Sports Federation (APSF) president Osoth Bhavilai said he was happy with how the Games are being run after visiting all the venues.
He was also impressed with the opening ceremony and the facilities catering to the para athletes at all the venues.
“In two days’ time, the Games will end. It has been good with many memorable moments. The hosts have done a great job,” said Osoth.
“The accessibility at all the venues is good and the competitions have run smoothly. There were teething problems but they have been managed well.”
Osoth also said that the APSF should improve on the classification of athletes.
“If there’s one area that we need to improve on, then it is the classification of athletes.
“There are still minor problems. With better education and training, I’m confident we’ll get better in this area,” he said.
Osoth, who is from Thailand, also said that all APSF members had been notified about the wpostponement of the world para swimming and powerlifting championships in Mexico following the devastating earthquake in the capital, Mexico City, on Tuesday.
Both events were scheduled to start on Sept 30 with 1,400 athletes, officials and staff involved.