KUALA LUMPUR − National women’s basketball team senior player Nur Izzati Yaakob is determined to make up for Malaysia’s disappointment of losing out on a medal in the previous SEA Games in the Philippines.
The Hanoi edition from May 12-23 will be Izzati’s fifth and the experienced cager believes there is no excuse for the women’s squad not to bring home a medal in the 5x5 event.
Although a bronze target has been set, the 33-year-old said the players are hungry for gold.
“For sure, this year we want to return home with a medal, regardless of colour, as we have tasted disappointment (in 2019).
“In the Philippines, we did not win any medal… so I am hoping to help the team win a medal (in Hanoi), regardless of whether it is bronze, silver or gold,” she said at the Hanoi SEA Games Malaysian contingent media conference at the National Sports Council in Bukit Jalil here yesterday.
Izzati expects the team’s biggest challenge to be from rival teams’ naturalised players.
“Every country competing seems to have at least one naturalised player. Regardless, we are now in the process of strengthening the squad and will give it our best,” she said.
Izzati has four SEA Games medals under her belt − gold in 2015 (Singapore) and 2017 (Kuala Lumpur) and bronze in 2011 (Indonesia) and 2013 (Myanmar).
Meanwhile, national basketball squad assistant manager Tan Seok Ling said besides the bronze medal target for the women’s 5x5 team, Malaysia is also targeting a silver in the 3x3 women’s event after their bronze medal contribution in 2019.
Seok Ling said as for the men’s events, the national team has set a bronze medal target for the 3x3 category while the 5x5 squad hopes to make it to the semi-finals. – Bernama, April 19, 2022
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