KUALA LUMPUR – All seven young Malaysian athletes who earned their spots on merit for the upcoming World Athletics U20 Championships in Lima, Peru, have received clearance from their respective state sports councils.
This was confirmed by Malaysian Athletic Federation (MAF) technical director Robert Ballard after the athletes officially confirmed their participation.
Earlier, there were concerns as these athletes were also committed to representing their states in the Malaysia Games (Sukma) Sarawak.
The athletics events at Sukma Sarawak will take place from August 17 to 24, while the U20 Championships are set to begin just three days later, from August 27 to 31.
The seven athletes heading to Peru are Fiross Faizal (110m hurdles), Pengiran Aidil Auf Hajam (100m and 200m), Hanssen Yap (100m), Ng Tak Sing (triple jump), Sayyid Amin Roslan (200m), Aiman Najmi (400m hurdles), and Muhammad Khalil Helmi (400m).
“Thankfully, there have been no issues from the states, as Sukma will take place first, followed by the World Championships. Initially, the tight schedule was a major concern for me.
“We raised this issue with NSC (National Sports Council) and NSI (National Sports Institute) back in early May, particularly regarding the protocol and the challenge of adjusting to a different time zone, which is a 13-hour difference, plus a 13-hour flight.
“The ideal scenario would have been to arrive seven days before the event, but unfortunately, we’re only going three days ahead. While it’s not the most favourable situation, these young athletes have earned the right to represent their country.
“We hope that this incredible experience at the World Championships will inspire and excite them for the future,” Ballard told Scoop.
Given the size of the Malaysian contingent, Ballard has recommended appointing four officials to accompany the seven athletes to Lima.
He has also advised the NSI to deploy a team of experts to provide sports science support to the athletes during their time in Lima.
“I’ve already spoken to NSI as well, and I’m hoping they can arrange some background work. Ideally, we’ll have medical staff, such as a physiotherapist and a masseur, because this team is quite large,” he added. – August 10, 2024