Malaysia's chances of medal at Rio Olympics improving - Khairy

Malaysia's chances of winning a medal at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil next year is improving with archery seen as the latest hope.

Youth and Sport Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said archery is also seen as having potential to win a medal if, prior to this, the hope was pinned on badminton and diving.

"National archer Khairul Anuar Mohamad has emerged champion at the Olympic qualifier at the Asia Archery Competition in Thailand.

"This is definitely the much awaited qualification, I had expected it and he is definitely qualified... congratulations to him," he told reporters when commenting on the success of Khairul Anuar in qualifying for the 2016 Olympic Games, here yesterday.

The national leading archer exhibited an excellent performance to beat Mongolian archer Gantugs Jantsan 6-0 for the gold medal in the final of the recurve event in Bangkok on Sunday.

At the tournament, only the three top positions get a ticket to the Rio Olympics but it is limited to one ticket for each country.

Khairy said the ministry would make the best preparation for Khairul Anuar so that he could perform well at the Olympics.

"If not at the Olympic Games next year, we may win a medal in time to come because we are among the best countries in Asia in archery, and Khairul is the best archer in Asia," he added.