SEA Games 2027: Malaysia will bet on elite athletes

PUTRAJAYA, 18 Sept: The Malaysian contingent is expected to stake out elite athletes at the 2027 SEA Games on a mission to hunt for as many gold medals as possible, thus achieving the goal of emerging overall champions of the event which will be held in Sarawak, Penang, Johor and Kuala Lumpur from September 18-29.

Malaysia's Chef de Mission (CDM) for Datuk Iruan Zulkefli Peninsula cluster said no exemption was given to the country's best athletes, including those who have achieved success on the Asian Games or Olympic Games stage, if they could potentially contribute medals.

He said the strategy would be combined with the participation of talented young athletes to give exposure on the international stage, thus as part of long-term preparations for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games (LA 2028).

"All the best, who can win a medal will act. No one will say who's won the Asian Games or won a medal at the Olympics we left behind, no.

"But if possible, the preparations for this SEA Games will also be a platform to find new talent and champions so that we can prepare them towards LA 2028," he said as he was met by media after the one-year second countdown celebration of the 34th SEA Games and 14th ASEAN Paralympic Games 2027.

Meanwhile, Iruan gave the illusion that Malaysia would line up the largest contingent with 1,300 athletes taking part in the biennial event.

He said the size of the contingent also gave Malaysia an opportunity not only to hunt for gold medals through experienced athletes, but also highlighted a generation of coaters to experience the competitive atmosphere on the SEA Games stage.

Regarding the medal goal, he is optimistic Malaysia will be able to repeat its success as an overall champion such as the 2017 edition of Kuala Lumpur, but the number of gold goals has not yet been set.

"I think we're capable of setting a record for being champions. It's just that we don't know the number of medals because we haven't set them yet and they will be public in the near future", he said.