Athletes low on confidence

03/12/1998

DEPUTY Sports Minister Datuk Loke Yuen Yow has visited all Asian Games-
bound athletes and he believes that they lack confidence.
"There is no reason the athletes should feel inferior because they have
just competed against some of the world's best at the Kuala Lumpur
Commonwealth Games," said Loke after visiting the hockey, squash, swimming
and cycling contingents yesterday.
"But I do sense its (lack of confidence) presence in almost all the
athletes.
"That is why I tell them to rely on the Malaysia Boleh! motto to
overcome their fears.
"We have world-class squash players and our women are tipped to win gold
in Bangkok, if they don't succumb to pressure.
"As for hockey, swimming and cycling, our athletes will find the going
extremely tough and only a high level of confidence can see them through."
Chef-de-mission Dr Zakaria Ahmad, whose initial target was two golds,
has increased it to four after visiting the athletes.
"After visiting all the athletes and checking on their preparations, we
have set a new target of four golds which is not beyond our reach.
Anything more will be a bonus," said Zakaria.
For the Asian Games, the NSC paid for the rentals at the Bukit Jalil
Sports Complex because most associations can't afford the high cost of
rental imposed by the Merdeka Stadium Board.
"It has been great training at the National Squash Centre at Bukit Jalil
as the facilities are world class, but once the athletes return from
Bangkok, we will head for the Jalan Duta courts to train as the rental at
Bukit Jalil is too steep," said Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia
(SRAM) executive director Kol (rtd) Wong Ah Jit.
"It would be a waste actually, if the national athletes don't utilise
the billion Ringgit facilities.
"We have made several suggestions to the Merdeka Stadium Board on how to
fully utilise the squash courts. We even agreed to bring in more business
but have yet to get a reply from them. So it is definitely back to the
Jalan Duta courts for us."
(END)