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MGF go back to grassroots to tap new talents

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Gymnastics Federation (MGF) deserve a pat on the back for admitting their mistakes.
And what is more pleasing is their willingness to learn from it in a bid to bring back the glory days in the men’s and women’s artistic event, beginning with the Guangzhou Asian Games next month.
Yesterday, Asiad team manager Abdul Razak Mat Amin, who is also the MGF deputy president, admitted it was time to go back to the grassroots and bring in new and fresh faces to the men’s and women’s artistic team.

A shortage of new talents was evident at the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi recently – especially in the men’s artistic team.

Malaysia have been banking for far too long on injury-prone seniors like Onn Kwang Tung and Mohd Iwan Miskob.

Kwang Tung took part in only three events and was not able to join the team for a training stint in China prior to the Games due to health reasons.


Instead of bringing in the veterans, Malaysia could have named at least one or two promising gymnasts from the back-up squad – like Hairi Zaid, Hoe He Hao, Hoe He Ping, Daniel Iskandar Richard, Chan Chong Yuan, Mohd Syazwan Sahimi and Mohd Hamzaruddin Nordin.

Razak said that they would have to come up with a comprehensive training programme to expose the younger gymnasts.

“There is no point looking back on what went wrong. It is time to start afresh and look into ways to develop the men’s and women’s artistic gymnastics,” he said.
“We have the potential but we need to tap it in the best way we can. We need to come out with long-term comprehensive plan. The gymnasts need to be sent out on long-term training stints and competitions.
“I have the confidence that Malaysia has the talents to be the best in Asian region. If we invest now, we will see new faces and stars in the next four years – for the Commonwealth and Asian Games. Both the MGF and NSC (National Sports Council) will have to work together to achieve this.”
Meanwhile, Razak said that the injured Cheong See Teng would be replaced by Tracie Ang in the women’s artistic team for the Guangzhou Asiad.

See Teng dislocated her right elbow during training on the eve of the competition at the Commonwealth Games.

Besides Tracie, the others in the Asiad squad are Lum Mun Foong (men’s artistic) and two rhythmic gymnasts – Elaine Koon and Nur Hidayah Abdul Wahid.

Elaine did the country proud in New Delhi – winning the gold in the hoop events. But she will be hard-pressed to repeat the feat in the more challenging areana in the Asian Games, which are usually dominated by China.

By RAJES PAUL


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