KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Swimming have urged the Sukma supreme committee to change their policy preventing SEA Games medallists from competing in more than two individual events in the national biennial games.
Their secretary-general Mae Chen said the policy, which also allows these medallists to take part in only two relay events, made it difficult for them to look for the best potential athletes to represent the country in the SEA Games which will be held in Vietnam in December next year.
The Sukma, in May next year, will be hosted by Johor.
“This policy also made it hard for the states to send their best athletes for all events,” Mae said.
She added that this ruling might also affect the medal targets set by the states.
“We want the best to represent the country, but again the states want the best to represent them,” she said after attending a meeting on the selection criteria for the 2021 SEA Games with representatives of the Olympic Council of Malaysia at Wisma OCM yesterday.
“We are stuck, on a national level we are stuck.
“This is something on a policy that both the coach and I can’t change,” she added.
Head coach Chris Martin said: “We are just hoping that someone can look towards the national interests.”
Meanwhile, Mae confirmed that there will be two swimming competitions, in October and December this year, and one diving competition in November to help prepare national athletes for future meets. — Bernama
Their secretary-general Mae Chen said the policy, which also allows these medallists to take part in only two relay events, made it difficult for them to look for the best potential athletes to represent the country in the SEA Games which will be held in Vietnam in December next year.
The Sukma, in May next year, will be hosted by Johor.
“This policy also made it hard for the states to send their best athletes for all events,” Mae said.
She added that this ruling might also affect the medal targets set by the states.
“We want the best to represent the country, but again the states want the best to represent them,” she said after attending a meeting on the selection criteria for the 2021 SEA Games with representatives of the Olympic Council of Malaysia at Wisma OCM yesterday.
“We are stuck, on a national level we are stuck.
“This is something on a policy that both the coach and I can’t change,” she added.
Head coach Chris Martin said: “We are just hoping that someone can look towards the national interests.”
Meanwhile, Mae confirmed that there will be two swimming competitions, in October and December this year, and one diving competition in November to help prepare national athletes for future meets. — Bernama
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