Five athletes shortlisted for 'post' of Malaysian SEA Games contingent's flag bearer

Five athletes have been short listed to be the Malaysian contingent's flag bearer at the 28th SEA Games in Singapore said Chef-de-Mission Datuk Seri Mohamad Norza Zakaria.

"At the SEA Games secretariat level we have short listed five candidates to be the flag bearer. The short listed athletes were identified based on their achievement at the previous SEA Games and current performances.

"The list will be submitted to the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM). Once the OCM selects the candidate, I will make an announcement," he told reporters after chairing a SEA Games managers meeting at the OCM Indoor Sports Complex, Wednesday.

Norza however, did not reveal their names.

He said during the meeting all 39 team managers who represented 35 sports were told to submit their final list of athletes, coaches and officials for the SEA Games in Singapore from June 5 to 16, by March 15.

"The SEA Games in Singapore will start in 93 days. We have also set up a portal to monitor the preparations of the contingent. All sports involved in the SEA Games will update information in the portal," he said.

Norza said the current number of athletes, coaches and officials listed for the SEA Games was 861, comprising 655 athletes and 206 officials.

He said the final phase of centralised training for the SEA Games contingent would be held at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) Skudai, Johor from May 28 to 30.

The teams will leave in stages from Johor by bus.