Malaysian junior athletes at Glasgow remarkable - NSC

Young national athletes have proven their worth, having been given the exposure to compete in major championships which prepared them for more competitive challenges.

National Sports Council (NSC) director-general Datuk Seri Zolkples Embong said overall, the achievement of junior athletes had been remarkable when Zulhelmi Mohd Pisol bagged a silver medal in the 56kg weightlifting event.

He also hoped the participation of junior weightlifters at the Commonwealth Games would spur them to improve their performance in other future tournaments.

"Four weightlifters and two athletes from the NSC junior programme were selected to represent the country at the ongoing Commonwealth Games.

"Several junior athletes who have been upgraded to elite athletes in 2012 have shown promises," he told reporters here Friday.

Zolkples said national shooters such as Eddy Chew, Jonathan Wong, Joseph Lee and Choo Wen Yan were maturing fast after completing their events in respectable positions.

"Jupha Sompnet who made his debut in Glasgow has shown tremendous potential by taking the sixth place in a cycling scratch race," he said.

"In squash, former juniors such as Rachel Arnold, Delia Arnold, Valentino Bon, Iven Yuen and Vaneesa Raj have put up credible performances for future forays into the international competition.

Divers such as Loh Zhiayi and Nur Dhabitah Sabri have also done well.

Nur Dhabitah partnered Pandelela Rinong to win the bronze medal in the women's 10m platform synchronised while Loh Zhiayi made it to the finals of the women's individual 10m platform synchronised.

The boxers also did not disappoint when Khir Akyazlan Azmi and Mohamad Fuad Mohd Ridzuan fought their way into the quarter-finals before losing to their challengers from England and Wales.