Morogen told to produce good results to earn contract renewal
KUALA LUMPUR: It is not the end of the road for national para archer K. Morogen (pic).
National Sports Council (NSC) branch chief for power and racquet sports Halimon Mohamad Sood said that Morogen would be included in the programme if he can produce good results in domestic competitions this year.
“It is not all over for Morogen. His contract was not renewed because he did not perform well in the Asian Para Games in Jakarta last October,” said Halimon.
“The other reason was his age. He is 47-year-old and his performance has stagnated in the compound events.
“We need young archers who can be trained to improve their performance. We cannot renew contracts of para athletes who have not been performing well in competitions.
“Morogen is not the only para athlete whose contract was not renewed as there are many others,” added Halimon.
“Morogen has been in the NSC programme for the last six years and he can continue to train in his home state to fight for a place in the World Para Archery Championships in Holland in June and the Asean Para Games in Manila in 2020.
“We have coaches in every state to train para athletes and Morogen should return to his state Perak to train.
“Morogen needs to prove himself in competitions this year to win a place in the NSC programme.
“He needs to compete in two national circuits this year in March and in July. If he can prove to be the best in the country, then he will be selected into the NSC programme,” said Halimon.
Morogen, who lost both of his legs in the sawmill accident, was shocked and annoyed that his contract was not renewed.
He performed well in the Asean Para Games in Kuala Lumpur in 2017 to win gold in the mixed team event with Nor Sa’adah Abdul Wahab and silver in the individual event in the Asean Para Games in Kuala Lumpur in 2017.
Morogen is also the second highest Malaysian in the world rankings at 43rd while Nor Sa’adah is 36th.
Morogen was also unhappy that Nor Sa’adah, who is 41-years-old, got her contract renewed.
“Nor Sa’adah’s contract was renewed because she is the country’s best women compound archer and there are no other back-up women archers in the country,” said Halimon.