KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian contingent has set a target of five gold medals at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, which is scheduled to take place from July 23 to August 2.
Malaysia’s Head of Contingent (CDM) to Glasgow 2026, Datuk Awalan Abdul Aziz, said that apart from five gold medals, the national contingent is also targeting two silver medals and four bronze medals.
He said the target was based on an assessment of the preparation and potential of the athletes who will take on the national challenge in Scotland.
“The training camp for athletes who will compete in Glasgow has been underway and we have made a decision on the contingent’s target, which we call the 5-2-4 target, which is five gold medals, two silver and four bronze medals this time.”
“Of the four gold medals that were lost (in Birmingham 2022), our target should be only three golds left. However, perhaps the medals can be obtained through other events, God willing. As a contingent and a team, we are confident in setting that target,” he said.
He said this at a press conference after the Jalur Gemilang Handover Ceremony for the Malaysian Contingent to the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games at the National Sports Council (MSN), Bukit Jalil here today.
However, Awalan refused to detail the sports or athletes that were specifically targeted to win gold, instead admitting that weightlifting, track cycling, field bowling, judo, powerlifting and para-athletes were among the sports identified as having the potential to contribute medals.
He said each sport has its own targets, but overall achievement must be seen as a team effort and not placed entirely on specific athletes or events.
A total of 59 athletes, including national para athletes, will participate in eight of the 10 sports to be competed in Glasgow 2026, including swimming, track cycling, athletics, weightlifting and field bowls, in addition to six integrated para sports.
For the record, Malaysia won seven gold medals, eight silver medals and eight bronze medals in the 2022 edition in Birmingham, England, but four of the seven gold medals were contributed through sports that were no longer being contested this time.
Earlier, Youth and Sports Minister Dr Mohammed Taufiq Johari officiated the Jalur Gemilang Handover Ceremony to national long jump champion Datuk Abdul Latif Romly who was honoured as the national contingent’s Jalur Gemilang bearer.
Also present were Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports Mordi Bimol, President of the Olympic Council of Malaysia Tan Sri Mohamad Norza Zakaria, President of the Paralympic Council of Malaysia (MPM) Datuk Seri Megat D Shahriman Zaharudin and Director-General of MSN Jefri Ngadirin.
— BERNAMA
