KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian contingent will adopt the same approach in setting its target for the upcoming SEA Games in Thailand this December, focusing on the overall medal tally rather than the colour of the medals.
Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh said this during an oral question and answer session at the First Meeting of the Fourth Term of the 15th Parliament in the Dewan Rakyat on Wednesday (Feb 5).
She was responding to a question from Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden (PN-Alor Setar) regarding Malaysia’s target and preparations for the biennial event in Thailand, following the host’s revision of the competition events.
"Setting gold medal targets places excessive pressure on athletes to deliver their best performance at international sporting events," she said.
"The final medal targets will be determined jointly by the ministry, the National Sports Council, the National Sports Associations and the Olympic Council of Malaysia, as the final registration of athletes for the event remains open until September 2025," said Hannah.
As a result, several sports expected to yield a high medal tally for Malaysia’s contingent include aquatics-diving, track cycling, hockey, archery, shooting, sailing, squash, and tenpin bowling.
Malaysia's contingent adopted this approach during the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou last October after falling short of the 40-gold medal target at the 2023 SEA Games in Cambodia.
At the Asian Games, Malaysia set a target of 27 medals, ultimately surpassing this goal by bringing home a total of 32 medals, including six golds, eight silvers, and 18 bronzes.
