The national track and field athletes should undergo a series of tests to check whether they are physically, mentally and psychologically fit for high-level competitions.
This is the recommendation by former Malaysian Athletics Federation (MAF) coaching committee chairman Datuk Mumtaz Jaafar in response to the country's poor showing in track and field events at the recent Birmingham Commonwealth Games.
Malaysia sent seven athletes to Birmingham, but none managed to meet their targets of setting new national records and personal-best marks.
Mumtaz said it is disappointing that some athletes are not honest when it comes to declaring their condition and fitness ahead of competitions.
"For example, high jumper Nauraj (Singh Randhawa) should have informed MAF he was injured (before the Commonwealth Games)," said Mumtaz, the vice-president of the Olympic Council of Malaysia, at the Asian Diving Youth Camp press conference in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
"The athlete only informed the team manager (M. Iyaru) after his event that he had an ankle injury.
"Injuries have to be treated, and Nauraj should have taken the necessary steps to inform MAF. However, he did not and went on to compete in Birmingham.
"It is not a good reflection on the athlete. Anyway, I hope he will recover for next year's Hangzhou Asian Games," the former national sprinter added.
The 30-year-old Nauraj, based in Germany, is under the spotlight for three mediocre performances this season.
The Podium Programme athlete, who holds the national record of 2.30m, cleared only 2.18 for the silver at the Hanoi Sea Games in May. In last month's World Championships in Oregon, he failed to clear 2.17 in all three attempts.
In Birmingham, he was the first of 13 athletes to be eliminated after failing to clear 2.10 in all three attempts.
Mumtaz, the former MAF deputy president, said triple jumper Andre Anura Anwar was a letdown as well for not recording a mark in Birmingham after failing in all three attempts.
"It shows that the athlete was not ready for the Games," said Mumtaz.
The others who competed in Birmingham were Russel Alexander Nasir Taib (men's 200m), Irfan Shamsuddin (discus), Jackie Wong (hammer), Shereen Samson Vallabouy (women's 400m) and Grace Wong (hammer).
Mumtaz hopes the Birmingham debacle will be an eye-opener for MAF.
"I feel sad when people ask me why our athletics team did not perform well in Birmingham.
"I just did not know what to say."
She added: "Athletes must compete in a few high-level meets before a priority event. They must be tested to see whether they are physically, mentally and psychologically ready to give their best.
"I hope our athletes will be well-prepared for a better showing at the Asian Games."
