By Wala’ Muiz
KUALA LUMPUR, 13 January: Out of 40 nominations, 15 athletes were selected by the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) to receive the Olympic scholarship from the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
This was confirmed by OCM President, Tan Sri Mohamad Norza Zakaria at a press conference on Tuesday (11 January).
The scholarship is to be used to prepare the athletes for the Olympic Games that will take place in Paris in 2024.
Mohamad Norza said that the selected athletes will be able to play 11 types of sports in the Olympics games.
He clarified that to be selected, potential athletes for the Olympic Games are required to acquire the right values and qualifications for an international athlete.
The press conference was told that the 15 candidates are among the prominent athletes in Malaysia, not just Azizulhasni and Zii Jia, but also the diving queen Datuk Pandalela Rinong and diver Nur Dhabitah Sabri, archer Khairul Anuar Mohamad and three national sailors, Nuraisyah Jamil, Juni Karimah Noor Jamali and Nur Shazrin Mohd Latif.
Two track cycling athletes Muhammad Shah Firdaus Sahrom and Muhd Fadhil Zonis and five national badminton players Aaron Chia, Soh Wooi Yik, Pearly Tan, M. Thinaah and S. Kisona are also granted access to the scholarship.
Also selected for the scholarship are former national athletes that include sprinter Watson Nyambek and race walker Yuan Yufang, as well as badminton players Ong Ewe Hock, Cheah Soon Kit and Choong Tan Fook, and sailor Kelvin Lim.***
Source: BERNAMA