KUALA LUMPUR: National Sports Council (NSC) director general Datuk Zolkples Embong has warned that athletes and their coaches should be given priority when it comes to accreditation for the Olympic Games.
He was upset to learn that the Malaysian Weightlifting Association (MWA) did not include coach Lin Xin Hui to accompany Malaysia’s sole weightlifting representative Amirul Hamizan Ibrahim to Beijing.
Instead, MWA named vice-president Abu Hanafah Ismail as the team manager.
Only when Amirul cried foul did the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) include Xin Hui to accompany the lifter to the Games.
Though the matter had been resolved, Zolkples is still seething with anger and warned national sports associations that the interest of athletes should come first.
“In weightlifting, the role of a coach is important. How can one not name a coach in the first place? I am glad that this matter has been solved and Amirul’s coach is going to Beijing,” said Zolkples.
“But I hope that this will not happen in future. The number of accredited members to the Olympics is limited and it is the interest of the athletes that should come first,” he said.
On the preparation of all the 33 athletes for the Games, Zolkples said: “We have done our part as far as providing the best for them. Now, it is up to them to give their best.”
The Star
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