Back up programme to replace sporting icons — NSC

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GUANGZHOU, China: The National Sports Council (NSC) will put in place a back up plan to replace icons like R. Puvaneswaran, Ku Jin Keat (karate) and shuttler Datuk Lee Chong Wei who may call it day after the Guangzhou Asian Games.

Except for Chong Wei, Puvaneswaran and Jin Keat, both winners of gold medals in Guangzhou, had announced their retirement from competitive competitions.

Puvaneswaran who heads the list of icons, won the men’s Kumite Under-55kg which was Malaysia’s eighth gold medal for Malaysia while Jin Keat gave the country the seventh gold.

Both Puvaneswaran and Jin Keat are 35, and Puvaneswaran especially, had featured in the Games since the 1994 Hiroshima Asian Games in Japan, winning gold in the 2002 Busan Asian Games in  Korea and Guangzhou plus silver medals in Hiroshima and the Doha Asian Games in 2006.

NSC director-general Datuk Zolkples Embong who was full of praise for Puvaneswaran said at the age of 35, he should have retired from competitive competitions but he has shown tremendous courage, commitment and dedication to contribute a gold medal.

“For someone who had already set up a family, it was a great sacrifice. NSC will now concentrate on back athletes to fill the vacuum when the icons exit,” he said.

Jin Keat was another karate exponent who earned accolades from Zolkples since he had not given up his chase for a gold medal since first making his debut in the 2002 edition in Busan. — Bernama

“I think I’ve had enough after three Asian Games. I am 35 now and it will not be possible for me to compete in another Asian Games when I am 39,” said Jin Keat.

There was also special mention for Ibrahim Amir who picked up a silver medal from the men’s 8-ball Pool at the age of 49.

“Despite being 49, Ibrahim showed a high level of commitment to reach the final before bowing out to Taiwan’s world number two,” said Zolkples. — Bernama