SEPANG – Hannah Yeoh believes that increasing investment in sports can make a significant difference in terms of performance of athletes.
The youth and sports minister was echoing Chef de Mission Datuk Chong Kim Fatt’s statement yesterday who claimed that the financial factor plays a big role in the progress of sports by the great powers including overall champions China, Japan, South Korea and India.
Hannah said that she will present the achievements of Team Malaysia in this week’s cabinet meeting.
“When comparing the achievements of our athletes with those from other nations, we cannot only look at medals.
“We have to look into how much was invested and spent for each nation because when we look at the track record of our athletes at this Asiad, those who succeeded need exposure abroad.
“They also needed different types of training, so what Kim Fatt said is accurate. We need more money because we want to develop the sports industry together so the results match the investment,” she told reporters at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport after arriving from Hangzhou today.
Malaysia finished the Asiad in 14th place out of 45 participating nations in Hangzhou, winning 32 medals, surpassing the 27-medal target.
Overall, the country’s contingent took home six gold, eight silver, and 18 bronze medals.
US-based athletes like Azeem Fahmi and Shereen Samson Vallabouy contributed to the overall medal tally and ended long droughts in athletics. – October 9, 2023