Not 100 stars? New NSC chief vows to treat top 30 like gold

Newly appointed National Sports Council (NSC) director-general Arrifin Ghani has pledged to bolster high-performance programs to capitalize on Malaysia's recent sporting triumphs and prepare for upcoming major competitions. Arrifin, who took up his role today, indicated there are no plans for significant structural alterations but will conduct a review to identify areas for improvement to sustain athletes' winning streak.

Drawing from his experience as Sports Commissioner, Arrifin intends to prioritize giving the best support to elite athletes, enabling them to reach peak performance on the international stage. He expressed his confidence in the momentum generated from the success at the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games, aiming to make further strides.

The next major event on the horizon is the SEA Games, which Malaysia will host next year, with Arrifin emphasizing the aspiration to not only win but to triumph convincingly. Regarding preparations for the 2028 Olympic Games, Arrifin hinted at the possibility of revisiting the Road to Gold (RTG) programme to ensure elite athletes receive the necessary attention, opportunities, and support to achieve their targets.

Acknowledging that Malaysia does not possess 100 super-elite athletes, Arrifin stressed the importance of meticulously caring for the 20 to 30 elite athletes the nation has on hand. Speaking on the administration's recent portfolio swap, Arrifin clarified that the decision was a collective one, deliberated upon by the NSC board and top management, to refine governance and the national sports ecosystem.