New performance evaluation and auditing panel as NSC target success at home SEA Games

PETALING JAYA: The National Sports Council (NSC) are intensifying their efforts to secure medals at the home SEA Games next year by introducing a new performance evaluation and auditing panel.

The panel, led by Datuk Marina Chin, will be responsible for conducting objective analyses of the effectiveness of the athletes’ programmes implemented by the NSC.

“The panel can be unbiased and without conflict of interest, compared to if we (NSC) conducted the analysis ourselves,” said NSC director-general Jefri Ngadirin following a committee meeting at the council’s headquarters yesterday.

“They will provide valuable suggestions and improvements to coaches as they observe the programmes in action,” added Jefri.

Marina emphasised the panel’s objective to facilitate the athletes’ access to the best training while avoiding becoming judge, jury and executioner.

“Our focus will be on a macro-level analysis, not a micro-level evaluation,” she said when asked about the panel’s authority to exclude underperforming athletes from the teams.

Among those present at the meeting were representatives from the National Sports Institute (NSI), the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM), the Paralympic Council of Malaysia (PCM), and both the Chefs de Mission (CDM) for Malaysia in the 2027 SEA Games and the 2027 Para SEA Games.

Other topics discussed included the status of the athlete preparation programmes analysed through the athletes’ performances, rankings and past achievements at the world, Asian, and SEA Games.

“We are progressing well towards our target - getting 70 per cent of our athletes on the podium at the Games,” said Jefri.

In addition to the evaluation panel, Jefri announced the NSC’s intention to separate national athletes from those of other nations during the Games by housing them in clusters in Sarawak, Kuala Lumpur and Penang.

The hotels within these clusters will be fully equipped to ensure the national contingent are not lacking during the Games.

“We want to provide our athletes with 360 degree coverage for our best chance at glory,” added Jefri.

PETALING JAYA: Former national track queen Marina Chin is no stranger to the negative impact of expectations that follow after winning a title.

Keeping this in mind, the twice-crowned National Sportswoman of the Year in 1976 and 1977 is wary not to overhype Mohd Azeem Fahmi’s recent achievement as he secured his career-first Asian Under-23 Championships gold medal yesterday in China.

“He has set a good baseline for the country. It’s a good motivation for our other young athletes to strive and potentially surpass it,” said Marina, following a committee meeting at the National Sports Council’s (NSC) headquarters yesterday.

Marina, who had a similar achievement with her first gold medal for the nation at the 1971 SEA Games at the tender age of 16, was vocal about how the mental pressure that accompanies success can be detrimental to young athletes.

“It’s easy to just say something and move on, but for them (the athletes), those same words continue to repeat nonstop in their minds.

‘‘That pressure will ultimately disrupt their mental well-being,” added Marina.

She also drew from her tenure as principal at Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) when speaking of her future hopes for the 22-year-old Azeem.

“I used to tell my kids to simply do their best, and the results will follow. He is still very young with a lot to look forward to. I wish him the best and hope he can break 10 seconds soon,” said Marina.

“But remember, he’s also a human being, and it’s okay if that takes time to achieve.”

Azeem, who currently holds the national 100m record with 10.09s, will take to the tracks again at the Nagoya-Aichi Asian Games in September.

Meanwhile, Marina, herself, will be busy leading the newly-formed performance evaluation and auditing panel as part of the NSC’s preparation for the home SEA Games in 2027.