Latest news with #MalaysiaSeaGames
New Straits Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Time for experienced athletes to deliver, says NSC DG
KUALA LUMPUR: The National Sports Council (NSC) has confirmed that Malaysia will be sending its top athletes to the Thailand Sea Games (Dec 9-20). The biennial games has in the past been used as a platform to give young athletes exposure at the international level, that, however, will not be the case this time said NSC director-general Jefri Ngadirin. Malaysia is expected to send a contingent of roughly 900 athletes to compete in 50 sports in Thailand. "Many of the athletes we had targeted (for the games) have met the category A criteria. I believe we are in a good position to be competitive at the Sea Games," said Jefri recently. "The Sea Games this time is not about providing competitive exposure to new athletes. The athletes selected have all earned their place in the contingent on merit. "It is true what Tan Sri Norza Zakaria has said. (Younger) athletes who competed in Hanoi and Phnom Penh have now qualified under category A and it is time for them to win medals at the Sea Games (this year) before we host the 2027 Malaysia Sea Games." Earlier this week, Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) president Tan Sri Norza Zakaria said the focus for the 2027 games is on "performance" as athletes given exposure during the 2021 Hanoi and 2023 Phnom Penh games have now "matured". Athletes must achieve a score or time that equals or betters the top-three finishers from the previous edition of the Sea Games to qualify for category A. Category A athlete's competition costs - not to be confused with preparation costs - are borne by the government. Category B athletes, who have to meet top-six times or scores from the previous games, pay out of their own pockets to compete at the games but will be reimbursed if they win a medal. The decision to send top athletes makes sense as Malaysia suffered its worst-ever performance in the history of the games during the 2023 Phnom Penh edition when the national contingent failed to achieve the 40-gold target set for them and finished a lowly seventh overall on 34 gold, 45 silver and 96 bronzes. The national bodies of sports such as badminton and cycling have already made it clear they will be sending their 'A teams' to the games, which was not always the case in the past. Malaysia is expected to win more gold medals this time as a number of favoured sports such as track cycling, tenpin bowling, squash and waterskiing have been reincluded this year.
New Straits Times
07-07-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
MAS grooming teen swimmers for Sea Games glory
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Aquatics (MAS) is focusing on developing swimmers aged 13 to 17 as part of their long-term plan to deliver gold at the 2027 Malaysia Sea Games. MAS swimming technical director Megan Oesting expects swimmers from this age group to form the backbone of the national team in two years time. Efforts to boost their development have already begun. "There is a strong push from the coaching team to identify and develop swimmers between 13 and 17 years old, as they will be our key athletes for the 2027 SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur," said Oesting recently. "This is the time to invest in them and give them the exposure, training and competition experience they need. So when 2027 comes, they will be ready to deliver strong results." Several young swimmers, including those who have met the 'B' qualifying standards, will represent Malaysia at the upcoming Thailand Sea Games on Dec 9-20. Among them includes the likes of Shannon Tan, Goh Li Jie and Isabelle Chiyi Buckley. "Our goal this year is to expand this young squad to allow them to get sufficient exposure. When the time comes to fight for medals at home, they'll be fully prepared. That's our long-term aim," Oesting added. Oesting also highlighted the importance of pairing these teenage talents with seasoned national swimmers, who will serve as their mentors. "We are relying on our senior swimmers to help guide the next generation. The support from experienced athletes is crucial. Right now, our development squad is progressing very well."
New Straits Times
23-06-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Olympic House construction to take 36 months, says OCM supremo
Olympic House construction to take 36 months, says OCM supremo KUALA LUMPUR: The Olympic Council of Malaysia's (OCM) new headquarters, dubbed the Olympic House, is expected to take three years to complete once construction starts in Bukit Jalil. OCM president Tan Sri Norza Zakaria said it could take roughly six months before obtaining the necessary approvals from local authorities before construction work can begin. "We expect to do the ground breaking (ceremony) at the end of July, we have received the green light from the Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh as well as the Malaysia Stadium Corporation (MSC)," said Norza at the Olympic Day activation event here today (June 23). "After that we can begin the submission process with the local authorities. "The construction process for the whole facility will take 36 months, so Let's say we get all the approvals needed at the end of this year, then it should be ready in 2028. "But we will try to push for phase one (main building) to be completed earlier. There is, however, no guarantee it can be done by the 2027 Malaysia Sea Games. "When it comes to construction, we cannot cut corners. This is a building which we want to last 30 years at the very least. "This (project) is one of the reasons our strategic partnership with MSC is so important. We have to be on the same page with MSC." The new facility will be built on a 5.38 acre plot leased from the government. Malaysian Resources Corporation Berhad (MRCB) will build the facility, expected to cost RM93 million, through a land swap deal. MRCB will in exchange take the 0.73 hectare plot of land along Jalan Hang Jebat, Kuala Lumpur where OCM's current headquarters, completed in 1991, are situated. Norza was speaking after officiating the launch of the Olympic Day Activation event during which he also announced a strategic partnership with MSC. MSC manages Malaysia's major sports facilities including those within the Kuala Lumpur Sports City in Bukit Jalil.
New Straits Times
21-04-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Moving away from 'village champion' mentality is also our wish, says Yeoh
KUALA LUMPUR: Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh has made it clear she is on the same page as Tan Sri Norza Zakaria when it comes to selection of sports for the 2027 Malaysia Sea Games. The Youth and Sports Minister said she expects to see Olympic sports making up the majority of events when Malaysia hosts the games, which is expected to be spread across Kuala Lumpur, Kuching, Johor Bahru and Penang in 2027. "I have heard the views of Tan Sri Norza who has urged us to avoid having a 'village champion' mentality (when hosting Sea Games) and remain grounded in reality. This is also our wish," said Yeoh today (April 21). "What he said about our medal tally from the 2017 Kuala Lumpur Sea Games compared to editions after that has truth to it and is rational. This will all be discussed by the 2027 Sea Games Organising Committee with the National Sports Council (NSC) director-general. "From what I have been told, we have an understanding with Thailand and Singapore (in regards to hosting the Sea Games) where the base of events included (in games held in these three countries) will be from Olympic sports. "Whether we decide to include additional events on top of that depends on whether we have the budget to include them. This is because the 2027 Sea Games will be spread across four cities." Thailand will host this year's Sea Games in December while Singapore is set to host the 2029 edition. Yeoh added that a chief executive officer to oversee preparations for the 2027 Sea Games will be appointed soon. She was speaking during the Youth and Sports Ministry's Hari Raya Open House event at Axiata Arena, Bukit Jalil today (April 21). Norza, who is the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) president, recently said Malaysia must shed its "village champion" mentality when hosting the Sea Games. It is common for Sea Games hosts to include many events or sports that are favoured by their athletes, regardless of whether the sports are in the Olympic programme or not. This is to give the host country an advantage in the medal table. Malaysia last hosted the Sea Games in 2017 and became overall champions by a country mile on a 145 gold, 92 silver and 86 bronze haul. The contingent scored more than double the amount of gold won by regional heavyweights Thailand (72-86-88). Vietnam were third on 59-50-60. Malaysia, however, went on to finish fifth overall at the 2019 Manila Sea Games, sixth at the 2021 Hanoi Sea Games and seventh at the 2023 Phnom Penh Sea Games, which was the country's lowest-ever placing in the history of the biennial games.
