PETALING JAYA: National basketball player Kwaan Yoong Jing has set his sights on winning his first SEA Games medal at the fourth attempt.
After returning home empty handed from the Games in 2011, 2013, and 2015, Yoong Jing, who has been called up to form the men’s 5x5 team, wants to get it right in Vietnam from May 12-23.
The men’s team also failed to win a medal in the last two editions in 2017 and 2019.
“I hope my team can get at least a bronze medal this time. My best finish with the team was fourth place in 2011 and 2013. I want us to do better,” said the 32-year-old.
Both the 5x5 and 3x3 teams are feeling more optimistic about their chances after several good performances recently.
“We finished second runners-up in the Asean Basketball League (ABL) Pre-SEA Games Challenge in 2022,” said Yoong Jing.
Besides, the 3x3 team emerged as the runners-up in the recent Asean Basketball League (ABL) 3x3 International Champions Cup in Bali.
The Malaysian Basketball Association (Maba) president Datuk Seri Lee Tian Hock had also stated that he was feeling hopeful that the teams can deliver medals this time around.
“We need to use the right strategy during the matches. This could be key for us. We also need to fight and stay positive,” said Tian Hock.
Malaysian basketball received a huge boost earlier when Maba signed a new sponsorship deal with Li-Ning worth RM1mil for two years.
The teams were also encouraged by a generous incentive announced by Tian Hock for the medal winners.
RM50,000 will be given to each player if they win gold while RM20,000 and RM10,000 each will be rewarded if they win silver and bronze respectively.
