KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) urged the Youth and Sports Ministry to review the role of the National Sports Institute (NSI) in training and preparations for international competitions.
MHC president Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal said currently only the men’s national hockey squad is eligible for full assistance by the NSI since the squad is under the podium programme, but other squads like the national women’s hockey squad and men’s junior squad do not receive such assistance.
“Today, sports science is all about high technology and that’s why I need more from the NSI. Not just hockey, but I think all sports that have potential and who prepare for international competitions must receive full-time support from the NSI.
“When teams go overseas for competitions, only four or five officials (accompany the national squad). They are limited. We cannot do that. You have to understand we must have a big pool of at least 10 (to help prepare the squad),” he told reporters here today.
Subahan added that the MHC would have to foot the bill for the expenses of NSI staff like food and accommodation, especially for masseurs, physical trainers, and nutritionists, although they too are part of the team that compete in international competitions.
Since the MHC are facing a shortage of NSI staff, the MHC has to engage the services of two individuals from other countries as physical trainers for the national men’s hockey squad and the national men’s junior squads respectively.
The junior squad will be involved in the 2023 Junior World Cup scheduled from December 5 to 16.
Apart from focusing on the Road to Gold (RTG) programme, Subahan said the NSI must also focus on supporting other athletes who need sports science, especially athletes preparing for the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China in September, as well as other international competitions.
RTG is a national project that aims to prepare national athletes to win the country’s first-ever gold medal in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Meanwhile, Subahan also said he hopes the NSI will be given a special allocation for the purchase of high-tech equipment, in line with the rapid development of sports science, which has become vital to the success of athletes at world-class competitions.
“If Malaysian sports aspire to go far, please look into the financial aspects first. Don’t talk about winning gold if you don’t have enough money and don’t find avenues of support,” he said. – Bernama, June 3, 2023
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