Rio Bound Olympic And Paralympic Contingents To Depart With A Royal Touch

KUALA LUMPUR, July 28 (Bernama) -- Malaysian King Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah Thursday handed over the Jalur Gemilang (Malaysian Flag) to the Malaysian contingent for the 2016 Olympics and Paralympic Games in Rio, at Istana Negara (National Palace), here Thursday. Tuanku Abdul Halim was accompanied by Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin when handing over the flag to Olympic Games chef-de-mission Dr Mohamed Al Amin Abdul Majid, and Paralympic Games chef-de-mission Dr Ang Kaen Koo. Al Amin then handed the flag to the Malaysian Olympic Games flag bearer Lee Chong Wei while Dr Ang handed it to the Paralympics contingent flag bearer Yong Yee Khie. Also present were Deputy Youth and Sports Minister M Saravanan, Olympic Council of Malaysia president Tunku Imran Tuanku Ja'afar and Amateur Swimming Union of Malaysia president Dr Shahidan Kassim. Khairy in his speech expressed hope that all athletes would be able to work hard and spring a surprise or two during the Games. He said all athletes, including big names like Chong Wei, Pandelela Rinong, Mohd Azizulhasni Awang, Ziyad Zolkifli and Rizuan Puzi were capable of good performances in Rio. The first group of athletes departed for Rio de Janeiro on July 21, while the last group would be departing on Aug 2. A total of 32 athletes qualified for the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, which will take place on from Aug 5 to 21, while 16 athletes qualified for the Paralympics from Sept 7 to 18 Other athletes in the Olympic Games squad are Fatehah Mustapa (cycling); Ooi Tze Liang, Ahmad Amsyar Azman, Cheong Jun Hoong, Nur Dhabitah Sabri, Ng Yan Yee, Welson Sim, Phee Jinq En (swimming/diving); Khairulnizam Mohd Affendy (sailing); Nauraj Singh, Zaidatul Husniah Zulkifli (athletics); Heidi Gan (swimming marathon); Mohd Hafifi Mansor (weightlifting); Danny Chia, Gavin Kyle Green, Kelly Tan, Michelle Koh (golf), Goh V Shem, Tan Wee Kiong, Chan Peng Soon, Goh Liu Ying, Tee Jing Yi, Vivian Hoo, Woon Khe Wei (badminton). -- BERNAMA