KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Megat D Shahriman Zaharudin believes national para athletes can help make up for the medals Malaysia is set to lose from able-bodied sports that have been omitted from the 2026 Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
The Malaysia Paralympic Council (MPC) president said this is possible if the Youth and Sports Ministry, via the National Sports Council (NSC), gives para athletes the support they need.
Unlike other major multi-sport competitions that separate their able-bodied and para competitions - the Olympics and Paralympics, for example - the Commonwealth Games holds both categories together and the overall standings includes medals from both able-bodied and para events.
"The problem with Malaysian sports is that we are always depending on the same old faces and the same sports to deliver," said Shahriman when contacted today.
"And when (able-bodied) badminton gets dropped from the Commonwealth Games we become paralysed, because all this while that is what we have depended on to win medals.
"I believe our approach has been wrong. We cannot place all our eggs in one basket, we have to spread our bets across the board.
"The government must open their eyes and look at the current situation. We spent millions on the Road to Gold (RTG) programme and all we got out of it was one bronze medal (at Paris Olympics). Lee Zii Jia was not under the RTG programme.
"We (Malaysia) do have money, but the question is where should we put that money to get the best return? We put huge amounts of money in sports which are not getting any results, especially football.
"Athletes from para sports have huge potential to win medals, including at the Commonwealth Games. They can help offset the medals lost from the able-bodied sports which have not been included.
"Give para athletes the support they deserve and we will bring the medals. Currently there is not enough support for them.
"We should be more inclusive, it does not matter if the person winning the medals is disabled, at the end of the day they are still winning for Malaysia."
To keep costs down, Glasgow - who stepped in as last minute hosts of the 2026 Commonwealth Games - have axed more than 10 disciplines which includes abled-bodied sports Malaysia has excelled at in previous editions of the games.
Badminton, diving, squash, rhythmic gymnastics and table tennis have all been dropped from the 2026 games. Combined, Malaysia won 15 medals in these sports - four of them gold - at the 2022 Birmingham games.
The sports which will be contested in Glasgow are athletics and para athletics, swimming and para swimming, artistic gymnastics, track cycling and para track cycling, netball, weightlifting and para powerlifting, boxing, judo, bowls and para bowls as well as 3x3 basketball and 3x3 wheelchair basketball.
Shahriman is optimistic national para athletes can excel in Glasgow given the right preparation and equipment.
"I believe we have the potential to bring back medals in para powerlifting, athletics, swimming and possibly even track cycling," said Shahriman.
"But our athletes, especially in swimming and track cycling, need more exposure competing at a high level.
"They lack experience competing against top opponents, especially those from Eastern European countries. Our track cyclists could also use better equipment, they have been using the same stuff for a long time.
"As for wheelchair basketball, I hope the team will be sent to Glasgow even if they are not able to win a medal because they need that exposure. It is good for the sport.
"At the end of the day, it is NSC that decides whether they go or not because it will be expensive to bring the team to Glasgow."
Victoria, Australia was originally selected as the host for the 2026 games though withdrew last year citing escalating costs.
A number of other countries, including Malaysia, were approached to step in to replace Victoria, however, declined before Glasgow finally saved the games.