Malaysia To Compete In 3rd Asian Beach Games In Haiyang

KUALA LUMPUR, June 12 (Bernama) -- Malaysia will compete in the 3rd Asian Beach Games, to be held in Haiyang, China from June 16 to 22. The Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) in a press release Monday said the Malaysian contingent, led by Chef de Mission Moira Tan, would take part in the men's beach volleyball, beach woodball, powered paragliding, water skiing and windsurfing. Among those to carry the national flag in Haiyang is 2011 Sea Games gold medallist, nine-year-old water skier Aaliyah Yoong Hanifah. Aaliyah will be accompanied by her brother Alexander Yoong, a former F1 driver, who is also taking part in the water skiing event. According to the statement, beach woodball player Chan Moi Nan, 73, would be the oldest athlete to represent Malaysia in the championship and might be the oldest to compete in any Olympic Council of Asia event or SEA Games or the Commonwealth Games. The grandmother of four took up woodball in 1999 to promote good health and good fellowship, as well as providing her the opportunity to travel to other countries. "Thus, Malaysia has the oldest and the youngest athlete in the Malaysian contingent to the 3rd Asian Beach Games. "One is nine years old on July 16 and the oldest will be 73 on July 9. A difference of 64 years. "The above clearly shows that age is not a barrier to sports participation," the statement said. The national athletes' participation in Haiyang is not funded by the governing body. -- BERNAMA