Marina Chin heads NSC panel to deliver 2027 SEA, Para Games targets

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 13 — Former athletics star Datuk Marina Chin will head a newly formed performance evaluation and audit committee established by the National Sports Council (NSC) to boost preparations for the 2027 SEA Games and Asean Para Games. NSC Director-General Jefri Ngadirin revealed the committee's role would be to examine the impact of training programs managed by the NSC and the National Sports Institute (NSI) throughout the three preparation phases.

The committee would then suggest enhancements to these programs to help achieve the goal of being overall champions at the 2027 SEA Games and obtaining second place at the 2027 Asean Para Games. The committee consists of experts from various sports backgrounds, such as Prof Md Amin Md Taff from Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI), Prof Raja Mohammed Firhad Raja Azidin from UiTM's Faculty of Sports Science and Recreation, and Dr Eliza Hafiz from UM's Faculty of Sports and Exercise Sciences.

The committee also includes Dr Arshad Puji, a sports medicine specialist, Prof Dr Garry Kuan Pei Ern, a sports psychologist, and former national squash player Sharon Wee. Jefri explained that this new approach involves engaging external professionals for independent perspectives on national athletes' preparation and performance, a shift from the internal evaluations conducted in 2017 during the SEA Games.

The committee will gain access to training facilities and hold direct discussions with sports associations, coaches, and athletes throughout the three preparation phases.