PCM reduce 2021 Asian Youth Para Games contingent due to COVID
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 20 -- The Paralympic Council of Malaysia (PCM) will send a reduced contingent of 13 athletes compared to the preliminary list of 30 athletes to compete at the 2021 Asian Youth Para Games (AYPG) scheduled to take place from Dec 2 to 6 in Manama, Bahrain.
PCM president, Datuk Seri Megat D Shahriman Zaharudin said the reduction in the number of athletes, who will depart on Nov 28, was due to the strict athlete selection protocols by MPC and the National Sports Council (NSC) following the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Several athletes were dropped as their performance did not meet the criteria required for their sport and there were athletes and officials who were confirmed to be COVID-19 positive,” he said at a media conference regarding the latest development on the 2022 Para Asian Games (APG) in Hangzhou, China, the 2021 AYPG and the cancellation of the 2021 ASEAN Para Games here today.
The Malaysian contingent will compete in six sports, athletics, badminton, boccia, swimming, table tennis and powerlifting in Bahrain.
Malaysia has taken part in AYPG since its first edition in Tokyo, Japan in 2009 and hosted it in 2013.
-- BERNAMA
