KUALA LUMPUR: Sports analyst Datuk Dr Pekan Ramli has stressed that it is important for national athletes to earn their Olympian status by qualifying on merit rather than receiving universality places for the games.
Pekan said he is hoping to see more athletes qualify on merit for the Paris Olympics (Jul 26-Aug 11).So far only five have secured their slots at the games.
A limited number of universality places, better known as wildcards, are available for nations whose athletes are not able to qualify in a particular sport to encourage representation.
Among the sports that offer universality places includes athletics, swimming, archery and shooting.
"The main focus for us (Malaysian sports) this year will no doubt be the Olympics," said Pekan when contacted recently.
"In addition to challenging for our first gold medal, we also have to look at the number of athletes we are able to get qualified on merit. Hopefully this (Paris) will not be the lowest number of athletes qualifying on merit for us.
"Of course there is the possibility of getting wildcards, however, that should not be the way to become an Olympian. Being an Olympian is a prestigious status or title which must be earned and must not be watered down."
The five Malaysian athletes who have qualified so far are Bertrand Rhodict Lises (diving), Johnathan Wong (shooting), Ariana Nur Dania Zairi (archery), Nur Shazrin Latif (sailing) and Nur Aisyah Zubir (road cycling).
More are expected to make the cut when the qualifying window for sports that use ranking-based qualifying systems closes in April-May.
Among those considered to be in a safe position to qualify include track cyclists Azizulhasni Awang and Shah Firdaus Sahrom, as well as weightlifter Aniq Kasdan.
Malaysia is expected to send between 30 to 35 athletes to Paris. Previously, 30 national athletes competed at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
