Athletics Squad Remain Focused Despite Asean Para Games Rescheduling

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 24 (Bernama) -- While others may have kicked up a fuss over the rescheduling of the 2020 Asean Para Games, Malaysia’s athletics squad would rather let their performance do the talking and bring glory to the country. Paralympics athletics chief coach R. Jeganathan said the athletics camp was not bothered by the fact that the 10th Asean Para Games had been moved to March 20-28 from the original dates of Jan 18-24. "Athletics is a gold mine for our country. Whether we like it or not, we have to participate for our reputation is at stake. The Asean Para Games is also a pathway to the Tokyo Paralympic Games. "All our paralympians like Muhammad Ziyad Zolkefli, Abdul Latif Romly and Mohamad Ridzuan Puzi will be in the Philippines. They understand our mission and are not distracted,” he told Bernama here Tuesday. In the last Asean Para Games in Kuala Lumpur two years ago, athletics contributed 36 of the 90 gold medals won by the national contingent. Jeganathan said the athletics squad would ease off their preparation for two weeks before resuming intensive training until March. He said he had explained to his athletes regarding the postponement of the Games and the need for them to stay focused. "As mature athletes, they cannot blame anyone. We know the organisers have problems and have to accept it,” he added. On Dec 20, the Asean Para Sports Federation (APSF) said in a statement that lack of budget and the problem of disbursing funds from the Philippine Sports Commission to the Philippines Asean Para Games Organising Committee had forced the biennial Games to be postponed. Following the announcement, the Paralympic Council of Malaysia sent a protest letter to the Philippines Paralympics Committee and said it wanted to meet APSF president Major General Osoth Bhavillai to convey its dissatisfaction. -- BERNAMA