MSN expects 33 athletes, 35 para-athletes to qualify for Tokyo 2020

ISKANDAR PUTERI: A total of 68 national athletes including 35 para-athletes are expected to qualify for Tokyo 2020 scheduled to begin in July this year, according to National Sports Council (MSN) director-general Datuk Ahmad Shapawi Ismail.

He said at present, 12 athletes and 14 para-athletes had qualified to participate in the world's biggest sporting event.

"We now have many more in the qualification process, including at the Badminton Malaysia Open and the 2021 World Cup Diving this May.

"So our expectation for the Olympics is about 33 athletes because many qualifying tournaments have been cancelled, while for the Paralympics, it may involve as many as 35 athletes, subject to the qualification period in June," he said when met after the flagging off ceremony for the Road to Tokyo 2020 Support Tour.

The ceremony was officiated by Johor Tourism, Youth and Sports Committee chairman Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi at the Dato Jaafar Muhamad Building here today.

Meanwhile, Onn Hafiz said Johor athletes who successfully qualified for the Games would receive an incentive of RM5,000 from the state government.

Those currently eligible for the incentive are cycling athlete Muhammad Shah Firdaus Sahrom, boccia athlete Chew Wei Lun and sailing athlete Nuraisyah Jamil.

-- BERNAMA