KUALA LUMPUR: The RM1 million injection from the Youth and Sports Ministry for sports development is a welcome boost, but Malaysian Weightlifting Federation (MWF) president Datuk Ayub Rahmat believes more support is needed to ensure long-term success.
The funding, allocated to weightlifting, archery, taekwondo and shooting, will be distributed to their respective national sports associations (NSAs).
Ayub said they are grateful for the support and will intensify their effort to produce Olympic champions but felt that NSAs should not be neglected.
"We shared our challenges and concerns during the Paris Olympics post-mortem. I'm pleased the minister was open to receiving our feedback, even when it was harsh, and she responded quickly to help us," said Ayub.
"When athletes succeed, they are praised and rewarded, but when they fail to perform, NSAs are often blamed, and there are calls for presidents to resign. This is unfair.
"For an athlete to succeed, it starts with the association. There is significant planning and strategising involved, from recruiting coaches to setting up training programmes."
Ayub suggested that rewarding associations would strengthen their administrative capabilities, enabling them to run better programmes.
"Rewards aren't for us to enjoy — they are for improving the association's structure so we can support our athletes more effectively.
"Weightlifting is a medal prospect for Malaysia in the Olympics, as many Asean countries have already won medals, including gold."
He cited the fourth-place finish of national weightlifter Aniq Kasdan in the men's under-61kg class at the Paris Olympics as a sign of Malaysia's potential in the sport.
"Producing world-class weightlifters like Aniq is possible if more state governments take the sport seriously. Weightlifting isn't expensive, and with proper planning, it can yield world-class athletes."
Ayub praised states like Perlis, Johor and Selangor for their successful programmes and urged other states to follow suit.
"If all states work hard, we can produce quality athletes like Aniq and Commonwealth champion Aznil Bidin. This would brighten our chances of winning Malaysia's first Olympic gold medal."