KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysian contingent for the 2023 Cambodia SEA Games will be smaller compared to the squad that headed for Hanoi this year, said the Games’ chef de mission (CDM) Datuk Mohd Nasir Ali.
Nasir, who is also Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) assistant treasurer, said the reduction in contingent size is due to the council’s decision to only allow athletes below 23 to be considered for Category B.
“The size of the athletes heading to Cambodia next year could be smaller. But we will have to wait for the final list to be sure.
“But even though the athletes in Category B will be below 23, it is important for them to be exposed to international tournaments.
“Maybe bringing home medals is not a guarantee, but if we want them to reach the Olympics, being exposed to the SEA Games and Asian Games is needed,” he told reporters today when met at Wisma OCM.
During the Hanoi SEA Games, the Malaysian contingent consisted of 582 athletes and 217 officials.
Meanwhile, Nasir said the position of deputy CDM (DCDM) will be announced soon, as several names have already been shortlisted.
“It will follow the same model we have for Hanoi, where there would be two DCDMs.”
With the Cambodia SEA Games scheduled to take place from May 5 to 17, Nasir said the next six months are crucial, adding that the contingent is in the process of finalising athletes’ names.
“The National Sports Council has already prepared training programmes while national sports associations have also done the same.
“Associations have definitely identified athletes for the individual events, but perhaps we need to wait for the team events to be finalised,” added Nasir, who is also Malaysia Weightlifting Federation deputy president.
Previously, OCM president Tan Sri Norza Zakaria said the Malaysian Swimming Federation and Malaysian Athletics Federation need to do better in preparing athletes that can win medals in Cambodia next year.
The Games are also set to make history as it will feature 40 sports, including Cambodia national martial arts of kun bokator.
Bokator is an ancient martial arts used by the Khmer military groups and is one of the oldest existing fighting systems originating from Cambodia. – The Vibes, November 15, 2022
