Failure in football shouldn't overshadow success of other sports: KJ

Football aside, there are many sports that have produced excellent results while some athletes are ranked world number one in their respective sport.

"Claims that sports in the country is doomed, is not right because many sports or athletes have achieved results that even athletes from developed countries are not capable of.

"Overall, there has been a lot of progress in sports, maybe not in football because the sport has not shown a high level of performance yet.

"But football aside, our rugby team emerged Division One champions in the Asia Rugby Championship and are now the fourth ranked team in Asia behind Japan, South Korea and Hong Kong," he told reporters after buka puasa and handing out incentives under the Athletes Incentives Scheme (SHAKAM), at the National Sports Council in Bukit Jalil, Monday.

Malaysia has a world number one in badminton, a former world number one and current world number two in squash, Mr Universe in body building, a world champion in wushu, a world champion in lawn bowls, a world class cyclist and world class keglers in tenpin bowling.

Khairy said there are also rising stars in track and field events like sprinters Badrul Hisyam Abdul Manap, Khairul Hafiz Jantan and high jumper Nauraj Singh.