LETTERS: We must do something drastic to revive Malaysian sports after the disappointing results at various tournaments.
Recent disappointments include the 2023 Cambodia Sea Games, the 2023 Asian Athletics Championships in Bangkok and the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games.
The main challenge is to ensure a strong development system which must involve all schools.
Through quality training, I believe we can develop physical education teachers into skilled coaches who can identify gifted student athletes at the earliest levels.
Physical and mental conditioning and elevated skills training are necessary to compete successfully at the state, national and international levels.
We must also grow a large talent pool to identify and develop future athletes. Producing skilled younger athletes ready to fill competition rosters will strengthen us in every sports arena.
Privately funded sports groups, such as the Young Talent Track and Field (YTTF), can play a vital role in grassroots development. YTTF involves groups of students and families in Perak and Selangor.
Children aged 6 to 12 are coached by former champion athletes and trainers in a variety of fun and engaging games, conditioning skills and sports basics at all levels.
For sports to better serve society, we need to change the way we nurture sports, especially at grassroots and elite levels.
Grassroots sports is the foundation for long-term success as it creates a wide talent pool. More attention must be given to national sports associations' (NSAs) development programmes.
NSAs programmes should be audited and given the right assistance in terms of knowledge, coaches, resources, funds and technology.
Clearly we have major work ahead to restore Malaysian sports to its glory days.
C. SATHASIVAM SITHERAVELLU
Seremban, Negri Sembilan
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times