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KUALA LUMPUR: The 2019 SEA Games in the Philippines will be the first major test for Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman (pic).
The SEA Games in December next year will be the first project under scrutiny since he launched the revamped athletes training programme that merged the previous Podium and Kita Juara programmes as one.
Syed Saddiq admitted that the Philippines Games would give an early taste of the revamped programme – on whether it was effective or not.
“The effectiveness of the newly launched ‘tier system’ sports programme that emphasises on the athletes’ preparation for the major multi-sport Games, will be put to test for the first time at Philippines SEA Games next year,” said Syed Saddiq.
“We certainly want the national contingent to keep the momentum going after dominating at last year’s Kuala Lumpur Games with an impressive haul of 145 golds, 92 silvers and 86 bronzes.
“All the athletes and coaches selected under this programme must know that they have huge tasks to keep the gold medals flowing in the Philippines.
“This will be the first KPI (Key Performance Index) for all involved,” added Syed Saddiq after a two-day workshop attended by 26 National Sports Associations, Olympic Council of Malaysia and National Sports Institute.
A list of 535 athletes from 26 sports have been identified under the newly restructured four-tiered sports programme that will start in January.
It include 19 first-tier athletes from badminton, cycling and diving tasked to deliver Malaysia’s first-ever gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
The second tier comprise of 107 hopefuls for the Hangzhou Asian Games and the Birmingham Commonwealth Games, both in 2022.
Also shortlisted are 175 potential gold medallists for the Philippines Games under the third tier while the remaining 114 names are included in the non-Games fourth tier.
A total of 114 coaches will be involved at all levels.
The names of the athletes and coaches will be finalised by the NSC selection committee from Nov 27-28.
Syed Saddiq said the first-tier athletes would come under the microscope more than the others.
“The athletes from diving, badminton and diving must put up a good show if they want to enjoy the first-tier privileges. The NSAs involved must monitor their progress closely as they are tasked to bring the nations’ first Olympic gold,” said Syed Saddiq.
As for the remaining NSAs in the tier four, NSC director general Datul Ahmad Shapawi Ismail said fret not. They have set aside a share of the RM100mil budget for next year to assist them with their development programmes.
“The priorities are given to the Games sports, but we will support the others in preparation for the world and continental championships,” said Shapawi.
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