Malaysia set 20-medal target at Asian Youth Para Games
KUALA LUMPUR: Small contingent. Big goals.
With just 12 athletes participating in five of 10 sports, Malaysia are eyeing a 20-medal haul – including five golds – in the third Asian Youth Para Games in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), from Dec 8-14.
The 12 members are Eddy Bernard, Jacklon Ganding, S. Thavanesvaran, Muhd Zulhaizat Zainal Abidin and Felicia Mikat (athletics); Mohd Zulfathi Jaafar (badminton); Carmen Lim (swimming); Wan Nurazri Wan Azman and Siti Nuraisyah Sahrin (powerlifting); and Gloria Gracia Wong Sze, Chee Chaoming and Ahmad Syahir Kamal Saupi (table tennis).
They will be led by chef de mission Siti Zaharah Abdul Khalid.
Of the 12, Thavanesvaran, Eddy, Zulhaizat, Carmen and Chaoming were gold medallists at the Kuala Lumpur Asean Para Games in September. The five contributed eight out of the 90 golds bagged by Malaysia en route to finishing runners-up to Indonesia.
“We’re sending only the best to Dubai,” said Siti Zaharah after the flag-handing over ceremony at the Paralympic Centre of Excellence in Kampung Pandan yesterday.
“Malaysia are taking part in only 20 events out of the 10 sports contested.
“But all these 12 athletes are potential medal- winners.
Hopefully, we can come back with five golds.
“Our best hopes are in athletics, powerlifting and badminton.
“I believe that all of 12 are pumped up for the challenge. They know that a good perfor-
mance in Dubai would earn them a place in next year’s Asian Para Games in Jakarta.”
About 800 countries from 30 countries will compete in the quadrennial Games in Dubai.
Malaysia hosted the last edition,
winning 19 golds, 22 silvers and 18 bronzes to finish fourth overall.
At the inaugural Games in Tokyo, Japan, Malaysia returned with five golds, seven silvers and 10 bronzes.