Asian Games medal target to be unveiled soon, says minister

PUTRAJAYA: The Youth and Sports Ministry plans to announce the official medal target for Malaysia's national team competing in the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games next week. Minister Dr Taufiq Johari revealed that 356 athletes have been selected to represent the country, accompanied by 185 coaches and officials from September 19 to October 4.

Dr Taufiq emphasized that the athletes are currently in the final stages of preparation for the Asian Games. During a press conference on Tuesday, he announced that the medal target and flag bearers will be revealed during the flag-handing ceremony on September 8.

A notable aspect of this year's team is that 110 athletes are under the age of 21, suggesting a strong pipeline of national backup athletes for the future. Malaysia finished 14th in the Hangzhou Asian Games of 2023, earning six gold, eight silver, and 18 bronze medals. These results were achieved despite the Games being held a year later than planned due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Minister Dr Taufiq also mentioned that preparations for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics are already underway, as Olympic qualification windows for several sports are set to begin soon. Qualification for these sports typically starts in the current year, with processes varying depending on the sport. The National Sports Council (NSC) has already mapped out the qualification process, which includes athletes competing in swimming, diving, athletics, cycling, sailing, archery, badminton, hockey, and more.

Early projections estimate that the NSC could qualify up to 28 athletes for the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, though this number may change based on athletes' performance during qualification. Dr Taufiq expressed the ministry and NSC's intention to strengthen the Road to Gold (RTG) program, which provides additional support to elite athletes aiming to win medals at major competitions, including the Olympics.