Selection based on standard practice, MPC president says on Paralympic swimmers
"The selection is based on world para-swimming calculations, not world rankings. It's about merit, timing and the potential to win medals."
SHAH ALAM - The process of naming para-swimming athletes for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games has been carried out following procedures and criteria.
Malaysia Paralympic Council (MPC) president Datuk Seri Megat D Shahriman Zaharudin said this following the recent controversy surrounding the selection of para swimmers.
Addressing accusations of unfairness, Shahriman said the selection followed established guidelines and best practices.
"We did not exclude anybody. Para-swimming was given two slots, so we decided to apply for bipartite slots, which are meant for the lowest-ranking athletes with slower timings.
"You cannot put a high-ranking athlete in a bipartite slot. We applied, but we were not approved," he said.
The controversy arose when national para swimmer Zy Lee Ker, 17 made an emotional plea to Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh, expressing his frustration over being sidelined despite qualifying to represent Malaysia.
Zy and Muhammad Nur Syaiful, both in the same category, were assessed however Syaiful's performance was significantly better, with Zy being 20 seconds slower.
"We need to approve only two slots and we want to find athletes with timings closest to the bronze medal to ensure a potential medal win," Shahriman said.
Malaysian Para Swimming Association (Prepma) Athlete Selection Committee conducted a thorough assessment based on established practices.
Despite claims of bias, the committee nominated Syaiful (S5) and Muhammad Imaan Aiman (S14) for the two slots allocated by World Para Swimming (WPS).
Shahriman reiterated that Zy's performance was not as competitive, making Syaiful the better choice to represent the country.
Shahriman also addressed the personal frustrations expressed by Zy's family, stressing the importance of focusing on merit and performance.
"As a parent of a special child myself, I understand the emotions, but we cannot undermine other athletes.
"The selection is based on world para-swimming calculations, not world rankings. It's about merit, timing and the potential to win medals," he said.
The MPC president also highlighted the need for athletes to maintain professionalism and respect the selection process.
He pointed out that public statements and social media posts by Zy could harm the athlete's future and the image of Malaysian sports.
"It's all about merit and timing. If you are slower and never produce results, you cannot blame others," he added.
Earlier, Prepma clarified that the selection process for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games was conducted transparently and without any vested interests.
After the automatic slot allocation by WPS closed on Feb 16, 2024, Malaysia received only two slots, while the bipartite slots opened for application.
Unfortunately, the application for bipartite slots was unsuccessful.
Three athletes met the minimum qualifying time (MQS) for the Paralympic Games which were Syaiful (S5), Zy (S5) and Imaan (S14).
The selection criteria focused on the potential to win medals, the number of events the national contingent would participate in and extraordinary achievements.
The highest probability of winning a medal was held by Imaan with 96.3 per cent based on personal best (PB) times.
Syaiful had a 95.5 per cent probability for the Men’s SB4 100m Breaststroke event.
In contrast, Zy's probabilities were significantly lower, placing him third in the selection ranking.
Prepma’s Athlete Selection Committee, after a thorough evaluation, agreed to nominate Syaiful and Imaan for the two available slots.
The selection process considered the views and suggestions of all stakeholders, aiming to ensure the best representation for Malaysia at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
