103 gold medals target for 9th Asean Para Games

KUALA LUMPUR: The Paralympic Council of Malaysia (MPC) has set a target of 103 gold medals for the Malaysian contingent to achieve in the 9th Asean Para Games, which begins on Sept 17.
MPC deputy president John Ng Keng Chuan said preparations are underway with 11 nations participating with 1,452 athletes registered to engage in 368 events.
Ng, who is also the Malaysia Organising Committee (Masoc) technical committee chairman, announced a total of 1,715 gold, 545 silver and 625 bronze medals which will be awarded during the Para Games.
"The opening ceremony will be held on Sept 17 at Stadium Bukit Jalil," he said in a news conference held here today.
He said there will not be any live screening of the events which ends on Sept 23.
"We've also extended assistance to Laos through a subsidiary programme as they were lacking resources. This is the first time it is being done (for Laos)," he said.
He added that it is an open event which is free, saying that public support was important to boost the morale of the athletes.
Present also was Malaysia's chef de mission Datuk Subramaniam Raman who said the athletes will focus on four main events to achieve their goal target – athletics, swimming, 10-pin bowling and cycling.
Subramaniam said Thailand will be Malaysia's main contender, adding that 60 buses have been allocated for the athletes.
The games will be held at six venues in Putrajaya, KL Sports City in Bukit Jalil, National Tennis Centre, Megalanes in Sunway Pyramid, the National Velodrome in Nilai, Negri Sembilan, and the Malaysian International Trade and Exhibition Centre (Mitec).
The games' schedules and scores will be made available at www.kualalumpur2017.com.my.
This will be the third time Malaysia hosts the Asean Para Games and its first time since 2009.