January 20, 2006 20:51 PM
OCM To Finalise CWG Contingent By Wednesday
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 20 (Bernama) – The Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) are expected to finalise the list of athletes for the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne by Wednesday.
Commonwealth Games Chef-de-Mission Datuk Seri Kee Yong Wee said the council would finalise the number of athletes, especially in individual sports like athletics and swimming, during a selection committee meeting on Wednesday.
Kee, who held a meeting with team managers of the respective sports for the games here Friday, said the Malaysian contingent is expected to comprise 270 athletes and officials who will be participating in 14 sports, including paralympics.
“We expect about 180 athletes to make the trip to Melbourne, including the paralympic athletes,” he said.
On the meeting Friday, Kee said it focused mainly on the technical aspects of the technical handbook issued by the Melbourne organising committee. One of the issues raised was the points system adopted for badminton.
“In Melbourne, the 21-point system is expected to be used but the printed version in the handbook stated the use of the 15-point system. We will take up the matter and clarify with the organisers. Apart from that, it is smooth sailing,” he said.
Malaysian athletes will feature in aquatics, athletics, badminton, basketball (women), boxing, cycling, gymnastics, hockey (men), hockey (women), lawn bowls, shooting, squash, table tennis, weightlifting and paralympic sports.
The 11 paralympic athletes selected for Melbourne will take part in athletics, swimming, powerlifting and wheelchair table tennis.
In the Manchester 2002 Commonwealth Games, paralympic athletes won a silver through athletics (silver), a bronze in powerlifting and two bronze medals from lawn bowls.
All medals won by paralympic athletes will also be counted for the overall medal tally of the participating countries since all paralympic events are being held simultaneously with Commonwealth Games.
In the 2002 Commonwealth Games held in Manchester, England, Malaysia won seven gold, nine silver and 18 bronze medals in the Commonwealth Games, with the golds coming from badminton, weightlifting and lawn bowls.
Badminton contributed three gold medals through Hafiz Hashim (men’s singles), Chan Chong Ming/Chew Hoon Eng (men’s doubles), Lim Pek Siah/Ang Li Peng (women’s doubles).
Weightlifter Amirul Hamizan Ibrahim swept all three golds in the 56kg category for snatch, clean and jerk, as well as overall. While Siti Zalina Ahmad clinched the women singles gold in lawn bowls.
Malaysia’s best ever medal haul was in 1998 Commonwealth Games held in Malaysia with 10 gold, 14 silver and 12 bronze.
– BERNAMA