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Not looking at Rio high five?; Reezal's reality games

SrORTCHECK NOT LOOKING AT RIO HIGH FIVE? "I want to see these athletes Reezalto 「sia's t irget on Monday give their 100 per cent during their events. They must fight AJITPAL SINGH many challenges due to Covid-19, en's 10m platform synchro, while hard and show everyone that [email protected] and of course, it has affected won they can perform to expectations them in some ways,“ said Reezal 's first-ever cycling in these trying times,“ he added. Y '▼HILE Malaysians' ap- in Bukit Jalil yesterday. medal by taking home the men's Malaysia will compete in 10 \ A / petite is whetted by “Our athletes have faced con­ keirin bronze. sports in , with medals like­ %/ five medals at the straints just to train, and they However, Malaysian fans ly to come from , cy­ ▼ V 2016 Rio Olympics, could not compete regularly in should not be discouraged if the cling and . Youth and Sports Minister Datuk international and local competi­ target is well below the Rio haul. Men's singles is Seri Reezal Merican Naina Mer- tions to enhance their level of In fact, some countries have re­ Malaysia's best bet for a medal in ican is rather more realistic in his competitiveness. These things frained from setting medal tar­ badminton as he had beaten the medal target for the Tokyo have affected them. It is not only gets due to the delays and dif­ likes ofWorld No 1 Kento Momota Games. g Covid-19 has also affected ath­ ficulties faced by their athletes of and of Citing the stress and difficul­ letes from other countries." just to qualify for the Tokyo Denmark en route to winning the ties experienced by the country's Five years ago in Rio de Janeiro, Games. All England in March. athletes in preparing for the the Malaysian contingent record­ , despite producing Divers Pandelela and Leong Olympics due to the Covid pan­ ed their biggest medal haul in the their first Olympic champion in Mun Yee are also touted as medal demic, Reezal indicated that he Olympics by winning four silver swimmer Joseph Schooling at the contenders in the platform syn­ will set a modest target this time. and one bronze. Rio Games, have decided not to Datuk Seri Reezal Merican chro following their silver effort He said Malaysia's medal target Badminton was the most suc­ set a medal target this time. They Naina Merican at the 2019 World Championships for the Tokyo Olympics will be cessful with silver medals from Lee believe that having 23 athletes in with former world announced on Monday following Chong Wei (men's singles), Goh V qualifying for 12 sports is already '(We will try to set a realistic champion Jun Hoong hoping to discussions with the National Shem-Tan Wee Kiong (men's dou­ an achievement. target for our 30 athletes as shine in the individual event. Sports Council. bles) and -Goh Liu The Ri。Games were historic for Malaysian fans also want to see Malaysia are also banking on “We have to be realistic and Ying (mixed doubles). Malaysia. In total, Malaysia have them succeed in Tokyo. It (the Azizulhasni to deliver their first modest in setting the target for Divers Pandelela Rinong and won 11 medals (seven silver and target) will take into account the ever Olympic gold in Tokyo, He the Tokyo edition. Over the last 16 contributed four bronze) in the Olympics, with ability of each athlete and the will be competing in the keirin months, our athletes have faced the other silver through the wom- five of those coming from Rio. effects of the pandemic on them. and sprint. Section: Sport Ad Value: RM 28,031 16-Jul-2021 Size : 894cm2 PR Value: RM 84,095

Not looking at Rio high five?; Reezal's reality games (cont)

:审 艦酷 THOUGH Malaysias five-medal success at the last Olympics has raised fans' expectations, expect Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican to set a more realistic target on Monday.

A AJITPALSINGH REPORTS ON PAGE 39