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Youth Olympics: Keng Liat sets modest target

Part of Malaysia’s contingent pose after a press conference in Bukit Jalil yesterday. — Picture by Fariz Iswadi Ismail.
Part of Malaysia’s contingent pose after a press conference in Bukit Jalil yesterday. — Picture by Fariz Iswadi Ismail. 
 
LIM Keng Liat always set high standards as a competitor but as chef-de-mission of Malaysia's contingent to the Youth Olympics, he is hoping for a solitary medal in Singapore on Aug 14-27. According to Keng Liat the sheer nature of the Youth Olympics makes it hard to predict the level of competition in Singapore.

"I have faced the media as a swimmer in my 15 years as a competitor but now I'm honoured to be playing this role.

"Since this is the inaugural Youth Olympics, it's difficult to predict where we stand and our target is to win at least one medal," said Keng Liat in Bukit Jalil yesterday.
"Our medal chances are from badminton, diving and sailing but we also hope the other athletes will bring out their best and surprise although they will be up against some of the best juniors in the world."

"This is my first experience in such an important role and I hope to get the cooperation of all the coaches, officials and athletes," he added.

A total of 13 athletes have qualified in athletics, swimming, diving, badminton, rhythmic gymnastics, sailing and weightlifting.

Badminton's Loh Wei Sheng (boys' singles) and Sonia Cheah (girls' singles) are good bets for the semi-finals and national juniors' coach Sun Chenghua believes both have the ability to win a medal.

In diving, Pandelela Rinong has an outside chance in the girls' 3-metre springboard and 10-metre platform, while Amirul Shafiq Jais and Khairuneeta Afendy, who will compete in the Byte CII combined sailing event, are the ones Keng Liat is looking at for medals.

In track and field, Ajmal Aiman Mat Hassan (110m hurdles), Navin Raj Subramaniam (high jump) and Fahme Zamzam Mehamet (pole vault) will find it difficult.

Others competing are Ooi Tze Liang (boys' 3-metre and 10-metre diving), swimmers Kevin Lim and Lai Wei Li, weightlifter Fatin Atikah Osman and rhythmic gymnast Lee Wan Nin.

National Sports Council (NSC) athletes division director Ahmad Shapawi Ismail said the complicating qualifying criteria only allowed Malaysia to qualify for just six of the 26 sports to be contested in Singapore.

"Only athletes born between 1992 and 1993 can compete in the Youth Olympics where some qualifying criteria had been unclear. If not for this, we may have had more athletes qualifying," said Shapawi.

"Most of the athletes are full-time trainees and are with Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) or various national squads. They have been preparing well for the event."

The contingent leaves on Aug 10 and return on Aug 27.

The contingent -- Boys: Kevin Lim (swimming), Ooi Tze Liang (diving), Loh Wei Sheng (badminton), Ajmal Aiman Mat Hassan, Fahme Zamzam Mehamet, Navin Raj Subramaniam (all athletics), Amirul Syafiq Jais (sailing).

Girls: Lai Wei Li (swimming), Pandelela Rinong (diving), Sonia Cheah (badminton), Lee Wan Nin (rhythmic gymnastics), Fatin Atikah Osman (weightlifting), Khairuneeta Afendy (sailing).

Read more: NST

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