Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Olympic watch: Best-ever prepared contingent

NSC director general Zolkples Embong
NSC director general Zolkples Embong

NATIONAL Sports Council (NSC) director general Zolkples Embong has declared the Malaysian Olympics contingent are the best prepared and is optimistic the medal drought will be ended in Beijing next month.

Badminton is the sport where Malaysia can expect at least a medal and Zolkples said the BA of Malaysia (BAM) has assured it will not fail this time.

Zolkples is also looking forward to other sports making big strides although they may not be strong medal contenders.

“Overall, I would say this has been our best preparation. The athletes have been granted their every request when it comes to training and tournaments,” said Z o l k p l e s.

“BAM is very confident that the shuttlers will win a medal, or medals for thatmatter, and the recent draw gives them a fighting chance to achieve their objective.

“Lee Chong Wei is injury-free and in ideal condition while the other players have also been gearing up well.

“We don’t expect other sports to deliver medals but they are getting better.

“We will witness some quality performance from them and some may even come to winning medals.” The Malaysian contingent consists 33 athletes who will compete in nine sports in Beijing.

M a l ay s i a ’s biggest representation will be in badminton where nine players will be battling for medals.

The last time Malaysia won medals in an Olympics was in Atlanta ‘96 where men’s doubles Cheah Soon Kit-Yap Kim Hock clinched a silver while Rashid Sidek took bronze in the s i n g l e s.

New Straits Times

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