GLASGOW: Malaysia will enter the Glasgow Commonwealth Games with a five-gold target but without several of the sports that have traditionally underpinned their medal success.
A total of 59 national athletes, including 22 para athletes, will compete in eight of the 10 sports hosted at the Games starting today until Aug 2, with the contingent being set an overall target of five gold, two silver and four bronze medals.
Chef de mission Datuk Awalan Abdul Aziz will lead the contingent in what is expected to be one of Malaysia’s most challenging Commonwealth Games campaigns.
Malaysia will be represented in 3x3 basketball, artistic gymnastics, athletics, lawn bowls, judo, swimming, track cycling and weightlifting, as well as six integrated para sports – 3x3 wheelchair basketball, para athletics, para bowls, para swimming, para track cycling and para powerlifting.
Malaysia won seven gold, eight silver and eight bronze medals at the Birmingham 2022 edition to finish 10th in the overall medal standings.
That performance, however, was supported by a wider programme that included several events regarded as traditional medal sources for the country.
Badminton, diving and squash are among the sports absent from the reduced Glasgow programme, significantly changing the composition of Malaysia’s medal challenge.
Their omission means the contingent can no longer rely on the same formula that helped produce seven gold medals in Birmingham four years ago.
Weightlifting, para powerlifting, track cycling, lawn bowls, para athletics and judo are expected to form the backbone of the national challenge.
Officials have not publicly identified the athletes or events expected to contribute the five gold medals as the approach allows the target to remain a collective responsibility without placing excessive pressure on individual athletes before competition begins.
However, expectations will inevitably fall on several established champions and experienced performers with proven records on the international stage.
Among the leading names are para powerlifting champion Bonnie Bunyau Gustin, para long jumper Abdul Latif Romly, track cycling ace Azizulhasni Awang and lawn bowler Emma Firyana Saroji.
Latif will also carry the Jalur Gemilang at the opening ceremony today before turning his attention to the men’s T20 long jump. — Bernama
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