KUALA LUMPUR – The Paralympic Council of Malaysia (PCM) is prepared to confront criticism if the national contingent fall short of expectations at the upcoming Paris Paralympics.
PCM president Datuk Seri Megat D. Shahriman Zaharudin acknowledged the potential backlash, especially on social media, but remains optimistic that the athletes will achieve their target of four gold medals, bringing Malaysia’s total number of Paralympic golds to 10.
In the past, Malaysia have won three gold medals at Rio 2016 and three at Tokyo 2020.
Megat emphasised that even though the athletes have disabilities, they are high-performance, world-class competitors who must be held to high standards.
“Netizens now know what is right and wrong. For me, it’s normal, and I welcome it. If you criticise, it’s alright,” he said at the 10-Day Countdown ceremony ahead of the Paralympic Games today, Bernama reported.
Malaysia will field 30 athletes in eight sports at the Paris Paralympics, scheduled from August 28 to September 8.
Despite the pressure, PCM is committed to supporting the athletes and ensuring they avoid any controversies that could affect their performance.
“Our responsibility is to win gold medals and heal the hearts of Malaysians,” Megat added, referring to the national contingent’s failure to win the elusive maiden gold at the Paris Olympics concluded last Sunday.
He also said that PCM and its 25 affiliated associations are fully behind the athletes, urging them to focus and give their all.
Reflecting on the recent Olympics, where Malaysia secured two bronze medals in badminton, Megat hopes to surpass those results at the Paralympics.
“If the athletes aren’t strong enough, we will withdraw early. We must uphold the rules and standards,” he said, stressing the importance of discipline and preparation. – August 18, 2024