KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia will not chase for gold but focus on the overall medal tally at this year's SEA Games in Thailand, says Hannah Yeoh.
The Youth and Sports Minister said this is in line with the approach taken by countries such as Japan, South Korea, Iran, Singapore and Hong Kong.
She also said discussions and a post-mortem with experts from the Nippon Sports Science University, which has an MOU with the National Sports Council, had affirmed this.
“Gold medal targets give athletes excessive pressure to perform at international competitions," she told the Dewan Rakyat during Question Time on Wednesday (Feb 5).
“Developed countries also only announce total medal tally targets.
“Each member of the contingent will then have the responsibility to contribute towards the overall target."
Based on assessments with athletes, specifically participants in the recent Asian Games in Hangzhou, Yeoh said athletes are also happier with a medal tally target rather than being made to go for gold.
“Each medal winner, even if it’s a bronze, feels celebrated (if) the focus (is) not just on gold.
“This is a more appropriate way forward for our athletes and we must adopt this in line with other developed countries which have taken this direction,” she said.
Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudeen (PN-Alor Setar) had asked about Malaysia’s target for the SEA Games this year.
Yeoh added that the target will be collectively determined by the ministry through the National Sports Council, Olympic Council and National Sports Association at a later date.
Among the sports expected to contribute medals are diving, track cycling, hockey, archery, shooting, sailing, squash and tenpin bowling.
On concerns that potential medal-winning sports will be excluded from this year's Games, Yeoh said the general thought is that Olympic sports will not be excluded.
“For other sports, however, it is at the discretion of the hosts. I believe the Olympic Council has held negotiations on this, where sports previously removed have been reinstated," she said.
