Don’t let talent go to waste

their dreams of becoming a national athlete is often on the minds of young talents once they receive an offer to study at a sports school.

Being in a sport school, one would think, gives an impression of having a bright future in sports while maintaining strong results academically.

This raises one question mark — just how secure is a student’s future at one of Malaysia’s national sports schools or state sports schools?

This is after certain quarters had claimed that numerous sports school students end up with their future in limbo once they have completed their studies at these places.

Based on information received by NSTP Sport, the number of unsuccessful athletes is much higher than those who succeed in their respective sports.

There are even cases of these young athletes who show strong performances at junior level, even becoming Asian champions, only for their talents to go to waste after failing to gain a place in the national squad at senior level.

Among the issues raised are whether sports schools have strayed from their original objectives which is to unearth and develop future champions.

A lot of public funds has also been channeled to these schools, the amount more than normal schools.

A former sports school student in Kuala Lumpur estimated that the government spends roughly RM50 per day to prepare food for each sport school student.

Who is to lose if such talent goes to waste? And what about their futures?

What is certain is that the people in charge, specifically the Education Ministry and the Sports Ministry, need to do something to ensure that talent from sports schools does not go to waste.

This is also to stop young talent from thinking that there is no future in joining sports schools.