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NSC To Host Mini-Olympics As Platform For Hopefuls

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 28 (Bernama) -- Back up and elite athletes would have to compete among themselves in a Mini-Olympics to earn their tickets to the Olympic Games once the National Sports Council (NSC) introduces the system in August.

Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said unlike SUKMA (held every two years), the Mini-Olympics would become an annual sporting event featuring only Olympic sports.

"The focus will be on Olympic sports that Malaysia can win medals, like archery, shooting and weightlifting," said Ismail Sabri after handing out special incentives to junior athletes here Wednesday.

In the long term, foreign contingents may be invited to participate so that the event will become more competitive as the SUKMA cannot be used for such purposes because many of the sports competed like silat, netball or sepak takraw are not Olympic sports, he said.

Ismail Sabri handed out incentives to a tune of RM20,800 to 24 athletes who won medals at the Australia Youth Olympic Festival which ended last week and the Commonwealth Youth Games in Pune, India last year.

-- BERNAMA

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