Ying How believes Malaysia can finish strongly in last three days

LET’S go for the final push.

Chef de mission Huang Ying How is confident Malaysian athletes will be able to pull off a strong finish in the last three days of the Commonwealth Games to meet the sixgold medal target and a top10 finish.

So far, Malaysia have a medal haul of 337 and are lying 12th out of 71 nations.

“We started well by winning two gold medals in weightlifting and I’m hoping for a good end,” said Ying How.

“Badminton, squash, diving, rhythmic gymnastics, shooting, athletics and lawn bowls are still ongoing and I expect some medals.

“Diving and badminton will have their finals on April 14 and 15 respectively and we’re looking at golds.

“I’m happy with the performances of our athletes so far, there are many positive showings. Discipline among athletes, coaches and team managers is very high. No cases or issues reported,” he said.

Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) president Tan Sri Tunku Imran Tuanku Jaafar said there was better quality in the athletes’ performances this year.

“There have been excellent performances, some have been disappointing and some have been unlucky to achieve their personal bests.

“In OCM, we’ve always stressed the importance of total medals. Our silver and bronze medallists have done equally well as gold medal winners. We’ve won medals from different sports – that’s good,” said Tunku Imran.

Malaysia’s medal contributors are weightlifting (two golds, one bronze), diving (one gold, two bronzes), badminton (one silver), powerlifting (one silver), rhythmic gymnastics (one silver, one bronze), shooting (one bronze), squash (one bronze), athletics (one bronze).

Podium Programme director Tim Newenham said finishing in the top 12 was achievable.