KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Golf Association (MGA) are expected to bank on youngsters based in the United States to carry the nation’s challenge at the 31st edition of the SEA Games in Vietnam next year.
MGA deputy general manager Sara Ismail said they would have no problem sending a team to the biennial Games as the association had many talented youngsters.
They include Ervin Chang, Zubair Firdaus, and K. Rhaasrikanesh in the men’s category as well as two junior women golfers in Natasha Andrea Oon and Putri Alya Abdul Ghani.
“Golf is unique because we already have amateurs who have experienced playing on the international stage, so we do not have any problems sending youngsters,” she said at a press conference after attending a meeting on the selection criteria for the 2021 SEA Games with representatives of the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) at Wisma OCM here today.
Sara also stressed that the MGA would have no problem calling up the overseas-based young golfers although many countries still closed their borders and enforced travel bans to curb the spread of Covid-19.
She added that the MGA had always cooperated with the various agencies, including the National Security Council (MKN), Ministry of Health and Immigration Department, to facilitate the return of their overseas-based golfers.
She, however, emphasised that all the overseas-based youngsters would still have to comply with the rules stipulated by the authorities, including undergoing the compulsory 14-day quarantine upon their return home.
Malaysia could only garner a silver medal through Ashley Lau and Natasha in the women’s team event at the 2019 Philippines SEA Games.
A total of 36 sports have been listed for the 31st edition of the SEA Games, which will be held in Hanoi, Vietnam from Nov 21-Dec 2, 2021. – Bernama
