KUALA LUMPUR – The success of the Malaysian contingent in securing 32 medals at the recently concluded Asian Games was not solely the result of one entity, as claimed by some.
In a joint statement today, the National Sports Council (NSC) and the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) expressed their displeasure over a certain party attempting to take credit for the significant contributions made by athletes from higher learning institutions (IPT) to the contingent.
NSC and OCM stated that the credit for the achievement should be shared among all stakeholders, including the national sports associations (NSAs), NSC, OCM, and the National Sports Institute (NSI), without the need for undue self-congratulation.
“Surely the success is shared by all interested parties,” read the statement.
“The real credit should be directed towards the athletes who dedicated their time, energy, and youth to prepare for the Hangzhou Asian Games, with unwavering support from their coaches and families, and the existing support system.”
NSC and OCM cautioned against excessive self-praise, as it can inadvertently overshadow the sacrifices made by athletes and coaches who spend significant time away from their families, regardless of the time or distance.
On Monday, the Higher Education Ministry issued a statement that IPT athletes contributed 17 out of the 32 medals, including three gold medals in the 19th Games edition.
Among the 93 IPT athletes in the national contingent, those from universities such as Universiti Malaya, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, and overseas students stood out.
Their collective efforts also resulted in five silver and nine bronze medals.
In total, Malaysia collected six gold, eight silver, and 18 bronze medals at the Asian Games which concluded on October 8.
NSC and OCM clarified that although these athletes pursued their education at IPTs or schools, they underwent rigorous daily training at facilities managed by NSC, either through collaborations with NSAs or at training centres abroad.
“The Youth and Sports Ministry, via NSC, provided financial allocation assistance to NSAs to cover athlete management, centre management, coaching, exposure training, and planned competitions, without relying on external sources.
“However, the ministry, through NSC and OCM, is aware of IPTs’ willingness to accommodate these athletes’ academic needs, thus allowing them to balance their studies and high-performance training.”
Out of the 288 athletes selected for the Asian Games, 88 were IPT students within the country, with four studying abroad, and the remaining 23 were still in school.
Additionally, NSC and OCM expressed their gratitude to the Higher Education Ministry for recognising the athletes’ success at the quadrennial event.
They encouraged the ministry to further empower the existing programme, positioning it as an integral part of the ecosystem that promotes high-performance sports, akin to countries like the United States, Japan, and South Korea.
The united efforts of all stakeholders in nurturing and supporting athletes reflect the essence of Malaysia’s success at international multi-sports tournaments, and the NSC and OCM hope to see this partnership continue to flourish in the future. – October 11, 2023