KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysia Athletic Federation (MAF) plans to send pole vaulter Nor Sarah Adi overseas to train at one of the world’s top sports academies, the West Australian Institute of Sports (WAIS).
MAF technical director, Robert Ballard, revealed that they have already initiated discussions with WAIS to secure a spot for Sarah, but the institution is currently preoccupied with preparing their own athletes for the upcoming Paris Olympics taking place in July.
Hence, Ballard indicated that it is highly probable that Sarah will be sent for training there towards the latter part of this year once they have finalised the details with WAIS.
This initiative is part of Sarah’s preparation for the SEA Games in Thailand next year.
“We have reached out to the West Australian Institute of Sports regarding their pole vault academy, and we have engaged in negotiations with them. They have assured us that they will respond after the Paris Olympics.
“At present, their focus is fully on preparations for the Paris Olympics and they are unable to commit to training athletes from other countries.
“I am not concerned about the prospect of sending Sarah to Australia a bit later than planned, rather, my priority is her long-term development. As a relatively new pole vault athlete, she is navigating a highly technical event.
“What I hope to see is her continuous learning and also providing her coach, Roslinda Samsu, with exposure to new styles or techniques based on the practices of world-class athletes on the global stage, such as achieving championship wins and podium finishes.
“All these aspects require careful consideration and cannot be rushed. We are working on a strategic plan to ensure optimal outcomes from these overseas training camps,” said Ballard.
It is understood that the 2023 world champion, Nina Kennedy, is also currently training at WAIS, positioning herself as a formidable contender for the gold medal in Paris.
At the same time, Ballard also disclosed that he has already identified potential candidates to fill the vacant position of hammer throw coach.
So far, he has shortlisted three qualified individuals for the role and he only needs two coaches at the moment.
Previously, Chinese coach Gu Yuan coached the country’s hammer throw athletes for the past 10 years, with successful proteges such as Jackie Wong and Grace Wong.
“I have the candidates, but unfortunately, I cannot reveal their names yet. They include both international and local coaches. Hopefully, within the next three to four weeks, we will be able to make some announcements,” he added. – March 29, 2024