Podium programme should stay: Tunku Imran

KUALA LUMPUR: The Podium Programme, which is currently managed by the National Sports Institute (NSI), should not be scrapped, said Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) president Tunku Tan Sri Imran Tuanku Ja'afar.
"To me, having looked into the programme, it is a very, very good programme. It maybe, needs to do some fine tuning but certainly should not be scrapped, in fact, it should be enhanced.
"The Podium Programme is just two years old...champions and world beaters are not made overnight and it does take time," said Tunku Imran.
Tunku Imran, who is the ambassador for the Asia Pacific Masters Games (APMG), was met after the Games torch presentation ceremony at the Kuala Lumpur Tourism Bureau Hall, here today.
He noted that by the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, there would be a lot more young athletes performing at the highest level with great opportunity for medals.
Commenting on the Podium Programme's athlete's performance at the recent Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, Tunku Imran said NSI would review it.
"They will consistently review the athletes' performances and they are not afraid of dropping athletes from the programme," Tunku Imran said.
Former National Sports Council (NSC) director-general, Datuk Wira Mazlan Ahmad has suggested that the NSC take over the Podium Programme following the contingent's lacklustre performance in Gold Coast.
The Podium Programme initiative was launched in 2015 by Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin following disappointing results by the Malaysian contingents at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and the Asian Games in Incheon the same year. — Bernama