When the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou ended last Saturday, our athletes did us proud and Malaysia came 10th in the final tally with a record nine gold, 18 silver and 13 bronze medals.
On the sporting field, it was high-fives, smiles and congratulations all round. Behind the scenes, another story appears to have unfolded.
Chef-de-mission Zolkples Embong’s assessment of the Malaysian performance was that we failed to impress in athletics. In a press conference, he asked the Malaysian Amateur Athletic Union (MAAU) president Shahidan Kassim to explain why ‘athletics’ failed to deliver, unlike in ‘aquatics’.
For those in the know, the problem is not with Shahidan's leadership but with a group of people who are allied to a senior official in the body, who undermines Shahidan’s authority.
Zolkples’s other concerns was that the country seemed to place its hopes on a few core athletes only, and that the national track and field athletes failed to deliver even one medal.
Our last stellar performance for track and field events was in 1966 when we won a record five gold medals whilst our last gold for these events was in 1982.
Besides that, we have insufficient quality long and middle distance runners, sprinters, horizontal jumpers, walkers and throwers.
The overall concensus is that the performance we achieved this year may not be reproduced for the next Asian Games unless Malaysian athletics is overhauled. The MAAU needs fresh ideas and people, and to replace those whose divisive presence undermines team effort.
The MAAU is answerable for the disastrous performance in Guangzhou and unlike the casual nature of addressing poor performance in previous major sporting events, the correct thing to do now, is to inform those who are in positions of responsibility, that their positions are untenable.
This year, Lee Hup Wei, Roslinda Samsu and Noraseela Khalid failed to shine. Although Hup Wei’s sporting achievements will continue for a number of years, Roslinda and Noraseela’s presence may only cover a few more sporting events. For these two, there appears to be no replacement in sight.
Another cause for concern is MAAU's decision making. Deserving athletes who would have gained valuable experience at this major sporting event, were excluded.
We congratulate those who won medals and though the others did not win, they tried their best but at the end of the day, the better person won.
If we are serious about improving our sporting prowess in international events, then one wonders if the Sports Minister should not wade in and sort out the internal problems within the MAAU.
How are we to take on the world in sporting events if we are not acting as one team?
One way of ‘replacing’ sporting talent is to address the declining role of sports in our schools.
Maybe the minister should take a proactive role and advise the Education Minister that thus far, the education ministry should not slash the annual budget for school sports, and should not axe various sports from the Malaysian Schools Sports Council calendar.
Our children’s education should be wholesome, with equal emphasis on sports and academic pursuits. It might be through these channels that our sporting talents and future champions are discovered through nurturing sport at school.
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