Asian Games: Athletes To Follow Through New Delhi Momentum To Guangzhou

SEPANG, Oct 15 (Bernama) -- National athletes who won medals at the New Delhi Commonwealth Games that ended yesterday, are expected to keep the momentum going for the Asian Games in Guangzhou, China, next month.

Malaysian athletes who arrived from New Delhi with 12 gold medals, two more than the targeted 10, expressed hope of maintaining their splendid performances in Guangzhou.

World number one Datuk Lee Chong Wei who successfully defended his Commonwealth Games gold medal in the men's singles badminton competition, said he hoped to perform better in Guangzhou.

"Although competition is going to be very stiff in Guangzhou, my target is to win the gold," he told reporters after arriving at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) here Friday.

He said beating arch-rival Lin Dan of China in the Japan Open last month had given him added confidence to set the gold medal target.

"Within the next five weeks, I am going to focus seriously on training and try to avoid any injury," he said.

Chong Wei said he had almost recovered completely from the back injury that he had suffered during the world championships.

"After the Asian Games, I might just participate in one or two tournaments to focus my preparations for the 2012 London Olympics," he said.

Diver Pandelela Rinong who clinched the 10m platform gold was also optimistic of winning a silver or bronze medal in Guangzhou.

"Winning a gold in the Asian Games will be a bigger challenge but I have set a bronze medal target for the 10m platform and silver for the 10m platform synchro," she said.

The Sarawakian diver who suffered a neck injury in New Delhi, said she was on her way to recovery and hoped to be ready for the Asian Games.

Meanwhile, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek said the incentives for the Commonwealth Games would be reviewed because the RM80,000 awarded to gold medals winners was high compared with other countries.

-- BERNAMA