KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 17 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Mountaineering Federation (PMM) has agreed to the requirement that its athletes will compete under Category B at the 2025 SEA Games in Thailand next month.
In a statement, the National Sports Council (MSN) said this is because none of the national climbing athletes were ranked in the top three in Southeast Asia previously, resulting in their placement under that category.
However, MSN clarified that PMM may utilise the RM200,000 allocation provided by MSN under the special programme initiative for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games to fund training and participation in ranking events, as well as to finance the athletes’ preparation for the 2025 SEA Games.
“MSN remains committed to supporting all sports with potential to deliver high-level achievements, including climbing, and has already held discussions with PMM for the athletes’ preparations ahead of the Thailand SEA Games,” the statement read.
The statement was issued in response to several media reports claiming that national climbing athletes had not received sufficient support for their participation in the biennial sporting event.
Athletes selected for the SEA Games under Category A are those ranked in the top three individually in Southeast Asia, and fourth-ranked for team events, during the period from September 2023 to August 2025.
The participation of Category A athletes is fully funded by the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) and MSN.
Individual athletes ranked fourth to sixth in Southeast Asia during the same performance period may compete under Category B, with the respective national sports associations nominating them responsible for covering all related participation costs.
These costs, however, will be reimbursed by OCM and MSN if the athletes succeed in winning a medal at the SEA Games.
“It must be emphasised that all national sports associations applying to send athletes under Category B this time have stated their agreement and readiness to bear all participation costs,” MSN said.
The 2025 SEA Games are scheduled to take place from Dec 9 to 20 across three regions — Bangkok, Chonburi and Songkhla.
-- BERNAMA
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