KUALA LUMPUR, 7 March 2018:
Six athletes who appealed to the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) to compete at the Commonwealth Games 2018 (CG2018) received the green light to attend the Games from April 4 to 15 in Gold Coast Australia.
They are national women sprinter Zaidatul Husniah Zulkifli, Abharam Eng Wei Jin and Charles Chen Seong Fook in shooting, Muhammad Daniel Haikkal Edy Suhaidee (cycling), Ho Ying (table tennis) as well as Yang Chen Yin (triathlon).
OCM president Tan Sri Tunku Imran Tuanku Jaafar said the appeals of the athletes were approved after the organiser agreed to gave two additional places in the individual event to Malaysia while four vacancies were due to listed athletes who could not go due to injuries or other reasons.
He also confirmed Malaysia would not have a representative in boxing as the country’s sole boxer who qualified, Mohd Fuad Mohd Redzuan in the light fly (49kg), was injured at the pre-Asian Games championships in February.
“Overall, Malaysia will be represented by 178 athletes including eight para athletes. It will be a competitive contingent capable of challenging powerhouses such Australia, England and South Africa.
“As usual, OCM will not be imposing any targets on them so as not to pressure the athletes, coaches and managers. What matters is the overall medal tally,” hesaid after chairing an OCM executive board meeting at Wisma OCM here yesterday.
Asked on the flag bearer at the Games, Tunku Imran said the matter would be finalised soon.
The meeting also agreed to appoint OCM vice-president Datuk Megat Zulkarnain Omardin and National Sports Council director-general Datuk Ahmad Shapawi Ismail as deputy chef de mission at the Asian Games in Indonesia in August.
– Bernama