Sea Games: Chance For National Contingent To Surpass Korat Record

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 7 (Bernama) -- There is a good opportunity for the national contingent to garner the most number of gold medals outside of Kuala Lumpur at the 2019 SEA Games in the Philippines from Nov 30 to Dec 11. National Sports Council (MSN) director-general Ahmad Shapawi Ismail said from the 386 events to be contested by the national contingent in the coming championships, 76 were from events which contributed gold medals in the Kuala Lumpur edition two years ago. “In terms of achievement, the 76 gold medals won in 2017...will be competed at the SEA Games this time. So we can see if our athletes can match their performance in the coming SEA Games,” he told reporters after a SEA Games target setting workshop Wednesday. The two-day workshop which began Tuesday assembled 114 managers and coaches to discuss the targets for the national contingent. In this regard, Ahmad Shapawi said the national contingent will be camping in Bangi from Nov 19 to 21 and the Jalur Gemilang handover ceremony would be officiated by Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman on the last day of the gathering. "MSN and the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) will be tabling the findings to the minister and he will announce the medal target,” he said. Meanwhile the chef de mission Megat Zulkarnain Omardin said he was satisfied with the cooperation shown by all managers and coaches present at the workshop. “Looking at the total, there are signs we could exceed the record outside of Kuala Lumpur which was in Korat with 68 gold medals. We will have 1,123 people in the contingent comprising athletes and officers,” he said. He said the first group of the national contingent would be leaving for the Philippines on Nov 17. In 2007 Korat Games, Thailand, Malaysia bagged 68 gold medals, which was the highest gold medal collection achieved outside of Kuala Lumpur. -- BERNAMA