PETALING JAYA, July 31 (Bernama) -- Malaysian Para Swimming Association (PREPMA) president Datuk Seri Megat D Shahriman Zaharudin has emphasised that the two automatic slots for the 2024 Paris Paralympics from World Para Swimming (WPS) are allocated to the country and not to individual athletes.
Speaking to Bernama, Megat D Shahriman, who is also Malaysian Paralympic Council (MPM) president, said that the selection of athletes for the quadrennial Games has been decided by the Athlete Selection Committee based on three main criteria previously outlined.
He stressed that PREPMA is always transparent in its decision-making process through a selection committee comprising MPM, the National Sports Council (MSN) and the National Sports Institute (ISN), based on the criteria used for each international sports event participated by the country.
"WPS allocates slots for the country, not for an individual athlete. The country will select athletes based on the criteria we have used for the past 10 years, not just PREPMA but other sports as well.
"The Athlete Selection Committee has decided to send two athletes, Muhammad Nur Syaiful Zulkafli and Muhammad Imaan Aiman Muhammad Redzuan. This decision was made at the highest meeting on July 18 and has been submitted to the Local Organising Committee for the Paris Paralympics," he said.
Earlier, Walter Lee, father of national para swimmer Zy Kher Lee, had requested that PREPMA be more transparent and clarify the athlete selection assessment model for the Paris Paralympics, which will be held from Aug 28 to Sept 8.
"It is important for everyone to know what exactly is the probability assessment model that PREPMA has used as benchmarks for selection. This is crucial for the future of our sport and our para athletes," he said.
On July 13, Walter questioned his son's exclusion from representing Malaysia at the Paris Paralympics, arguing that the 17-year-old swimmer deserved to participate.
However, on July 16, PREPMA issued a statement explaining that the athlete selection for the Paris Paralympics was conducted according to procedures and three main criteria - medal-winning potential, the number of events Malaysia will participate in, and outstanding achievements.
PREPMA clarified that although three athletes met the Minimum Qualification Standards (MQS), Malaysia only received two automatic slots from WPS for the Games.
The three athletes who achieved the MQS were Muhammad Nur Syaiful in four events and Zy in two events, both in the S5 class (physical disabilities), while Muhammad Imaan qualified for one event in the S14 class (learning disabilities).
-- BERNAMA
