KUALA LUMPUR: The National Sports Council’s (NSC) Paralympics unit has identified 21 athletes with potential to earn a ticket to the 2012 London Paralympic Games.
Its director Mohd Safrushahar Yusoff said the 21 athletes identified were from eight sports, namely athletics, swimming, archery, powerlifting, table tennis, cycling, sailing and wheelchair tennis.
“This year is a critical year because it is the final year for athletes to try and qualify for the Paralympics in London. Everyone must be focused on trying to qualify,” he told Bernama here yesterday.
Mohd Safrushahar said the 21 athletes were picked after their impressive performances during the Para Asian Games in Guangzhou, China last month.
He added that Malaysia had already earned two slots for London through cycling and sailing but hoped more would follow suit and see action in the biggest events for Paralympians.
Malaysia won a bronze medal at the Beijing Paralympics in 2008 through Siow Lee Chan in the women’s powerlifting event. — Bernama