KUALA LUMPUR: Diver Ooi Tze Liang could be the last athlete to make the Malaysian contingent for the Paris Olympics, but the chance is slim.
Only last week, women's diver Nur Dhabitah Sabri received an unused quota slot from World Aquatics (WA) for the Paris Games.
It is learnt that Tze Liang could get a berth from WA if there are any changes in the list of qualified athletes, with the deadline on July 8.
Paris Olympics Chef de Mission (CDM) Datuk Hamidin Amin said there are 26 Malaysian athletes confirmed for the Paria Games to date, and Tze Liang could be the last athlete pending WA's decisions.
Hamidin added that the first batch of Malaysian athletes will depart for Paris on July 14, and the National Sports Institute (NSI) and National Sports Council (NSC) will set up the Malaysia House in Paris next week.
He also revealed that the contingent's marching uniform, inspired by Baju Melayu, is designed by renowned Malaysian brand, Rizman Ruzaini.
"Tze Liang could be the last athlete to join the contingent if WA gives the slot like what happened to Dhabitah, but this depends on them, and we will probably know in the next few days," said Hamidin after a sponsorship signing ceremony with footwear company Skechers at Wisma OCM today.
"The athletes will be leaving in batches for Paris, and some of the athletes, like the track cyclists who are training in Europe, will head there straight.
"The contingent's marching outfit is inspired by the traditional Baju Melayu. The design is finalised and will be unveiled to the public soon,'' said Hamidin.
Meanwhile, Skechers Malaysia senior general manager Stephanie Chang said they are honoured to support the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) as the official footwear for the Malaysian contingent and hoped the partnership can continue for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics as well.
The inaugural collaboration will see Skechers Malaysia equipping the Malaysian contingent with 100 pairs of high-performance footwear, with the total value of the sponsorship at retail price being RM194,290.
"Skechers Malaysia is honoured to support the OCM and its talented athletes on their journey to Olympic glory. This partnership is not just sponsorship; it is a shared vision for success. We are committed to providing the best comfort and support to our athletes to achieve their potential on the world stage and bring victory to Malaysia," she said.