NEW TALENTS AT PARA SUKMA 2024 COULD EARN SPOTS AT BIGGER MEETS - SUBRAMANIAM

KUCHING, Sept 22 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Paralympic Council (PCM) hopes the Para Malaysia Games (Para SUKMA) 2024, set to officially open tonight at the Unity Stadium here, will serve as a platform for nurturing new talents, including more female athletes, to represent the nation at the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games (LA28).

PCM secretary-general Datuk R. Subramaniam wants to see an increase in potential athletes, particularly in athletics and swimming, as these sports offer numerous medal opportunities at this prestigious event.

“Imagine, in athletics alone, there are 30 gold medals available for the 100 metres event. That is where the big opportunity comes in and we don’t seem to focus on these things.

“Our strategy moving forward is to push for more categories and achieve gender balance,” he told Bernama today.

He said PCM would like to see one-third of the national contingent for LA28 made up of female athletes, especially as many other countries are already achieving nearly equal participation for both genders, particularly at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.

Subramaniam pointed out that participation of female national athletes in the 2024 Paralympics is considered low, with only six out of a total of 30 athletes competing in Paris.

The six athletes include Noor Askuzaimey Mat Salim (boccia), Nur Jannaton Abdul Jalil (archery), and four cyclists: Nur Azlia Syafinaz Mohd Zais with her pilot Nurul Suhada Zainal, as well as Nur Suraiya Muhamad Zamri and Farina Shawati Mohd Adnan (pilots).

If any new, especially young athletes excel at Para SUKMA 2024, PCM is ready to offer them chances to compete at the 2025 Asian Youth Para Games in Uzbekistan, the 2025 ASEAN Para Games in Thailand, and the 2026 Asian Para Games in Japan, Subramaniam said.

He said this initiative is in line with PCM's long-term vision to support new athletes in reaching their peak performance for the Paralympic Games.

Based on the performances of participating countries at Paris 2024, Subramaniam expects tougher challenges ahead for Malaysia at LA28, reinforcing the need for intensified efforts in developing new talents that can excel on the international stage.

At the Paris Paralympic Games, Malaysia brought home two golds, two silvers and one bronze, falling short of the four-gold target previously set by PCM.

A total of 328 gold medals will be up for grabs across 10 sports at Para SUKMA 2024, including athletics, powerlifting, badminton, swimming, table tennis, lawn bowls, archery, boccia, tenpin bowling and chess.

-- BERNAMA