Ministry to focus on unearthing para talents

KUALA LUMPUR: It’s time to unearth new para talents for the nation.

Youth and Sports minister Hannah Yeah is delighted with the performances of para athletes at the Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, China, but is urging stakeholders to do more for grassroots development and talent identification.

In the recent Games, Malaysia won 39 medals, exceeding their target of 35, which included seven gold medals.

Hannah is heartened by the success but admitted they were nowhere near the triumphant outing they enjoyed at the Jakarta-Palembang edition in 2018 where they won 68 medals (17-16-25).

And she has urged the nation to unearth more talents for future Games and encouraged parents to play a big part.

“One of the concerns is to raise new talents,” said Hannah after Huawei gifted the Asian Para Games medallists with a fitness watch at the NSC in Bukit Jalil yesterday.

“I would like to request the National Sports Council to make promotional efforts.

“I want to bring our para medallists for a country tour, and show parents out there that they need to celebrate their child with disabilities. These kids may be different but they can do something special.”

Hannah wants equal focus given to able and para athletes in every aspect of development.

“We should inspire our new generation. After given OKU cards, some parents do not want to bring their children out.

“We have to see disability as an enabling tool. I cannot play tennis like our para-athletes did. We must start talking more about this.

“In our eyes, there is no difference between able and para-athletes.”

Hannah also said discussions would be held with the National Sports Institute (NSI) to enhance their services, and she has told them to come up with a centre that would be able to classify the categories of para athletes and unearth potentials.“In the recent budget, we were given RM12mil for para athletes. We will use it not just for elite athletes but for the development of future talents as well. My worry is not money, but getting more talents for Malaysia.