KUALA LUMPUR – The Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) does not rule out adopting a different approach in setting the country’s medal target for the Paris Olympics, despite Datuk Azizulhasni Awang and Lee Zii Jia both aiming for gold at the Games.
Speaking to Scoop, OCM secretary-general Datuk Nazifuddin Najib praised the courage of the two athletes, but said their personal targets did not reflect the Malaysian contingent’s overall target for the Summer Games in July.
OCM will engage in discussions with the Youth and Sports Ministry and the respective national sports associations before making any official announcements.
Nevertheless, Nazifuddin expressed uncertainty on whether Malaysia would adopt a similar approach as used for the Hangzhou Asian Games, where medal targets were announced without specific colour distinctions, based on recommendations from the Nippon Sport Science University (NSSU).
In Hangzhou, Malaysia set a target of 27 medals but exceeded expectations by securing six golds, eight silvers and 18 bronzes.
At the Tokyo Olympics held in 2021, Malaysia set a more conservative target of just one medal. However, they surpassed this goal, clinching a silver courtesy of track cyclist Azizul and a bronze in badminton through men’s doubles Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik.
“All aspects will be considered before the main target is announced by the government. Athletes have the right to set their personal targets, but many factors need to be considered before a final decision is made for Malaysia’s contingent.
“Yes, we want gold, and at the moment we have athletes who are brave enough to aim for that medal, but we still need to discuss before setting the official target for Malaysia’s contingent.
“For the SEA Games and Asian Games, we have different target-setting approaches, but now our athletes have openly announced their targets for the Paris Olympics.
“I believe this will be the main topic of discussion between (Youth and Sports Minister) YB Hannah Yeoh and the Road to Gold committee, as NSSU is not actually involved in any decisions at the highest level of the Olympics, but there may also be other target-setting approaches for Paris later,” said Nazifuddin.
However, Nazifuddin has yet to provide a specific date for when Malaysia’s medal target for the Paris Olympics will be announced by the Youth and Sports Ministry.
Two weeks ago, Azizul became the first athlete to announce his target of winning a gold medal in Paris, and the track cyclist has been supported by the Malaysian National Cycling Federation based on his outstanding performance despite just recovering from heart disease.
However, the situation is different for Zii Jia in badminton as he has not been consistent in several international tournaments despite having the ability to defeat big names in the men’s singles.
“I see that the situation in badminton may differ from cycling. In badminton, they seem to be struggling to find good momentum, and it’s more common for them to face losses before reaching the final.
“However, in my opinion, if Zii Jia is courageous and believes he can secure a gold medal, he must put in the hard work because the Olympics present a unique challenge compared to other championships. Every country will be eyeing the gold,” he added. – May 13, 2024