The question however, is can Malaysia achieve the target in Laos after the SEA Games Federation (SGF) had decided to drop 11 sports that had contributed 25 gold medals for the country during the 2007 Korat SEA Games in Thailand.
If prediction of the national sports associations involved in the games was used as a yardstick, target was more than achievable although Chef-de-Mission (CDM) for the Malaysian contingent, Datuk Dr Ramlan Abd Aziz wanted to remain realistic.
According to prediction of medals by associations - swimming and diving has set a five-gold target, wushu (2), shooting (4), silat (2), cycling (3), taekwondo (2), karate (5), petanque (1), archery (2), athletics (7), badminton (2) - the Malaysian contingent is set to win 40 gold medals.
Minister of Youth and Sports Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek had set the target at 30 to 35 compared with the 68 won in Korat from 43 sports hosted, because Laos was hosting only 25 sports with reduced number of events while Malaysia are taking part in only 21 sports.
Apart from the 11 sports that have set gold medal targets, the remaining 10 have remained cautious in their predictions by aiming for silver or bronze medals while some would be contended with reaching the final.
Judo for example, has set a three-bronze target, volleyball (final), golf (no target), table tennis (1 silver), boxing (no gold), weightlifting (no gold), waterpolo (1 bronze), sepaktakraw (no gold), snooker & billiard (no gold), and tennis (two bronze).
Dr Ramlan said sports associations were free to give their own predictions because they have their own assessment, maybe theirs was based on records and current performance of athletes but the National Sports Council, Olympic Council of Malaysia and CDM also have their own assessment procedures.
He added that as the CDM, his main priority was to see the contingent achieve the desired results, instead of dwelling with predictions and targets.
"Associations can make various predictions. If they predict gold, it is a good sign and shows the association's confidence on its athletes.
"But it can also turn out to be a 'feel good' sign or just an excuse to be part of the contingent to the games," he told Bernama.
For Dr Ramlan though, the most important aspect is the performance of the athlete because each athlete's achievement would be measured by his or her personal performance throughout the year.
"If an athlete can better his achievement and performance, it will be a success and I believe a gold medal will follow suit," he said.
In Korat, 25 of the 68 gold medals won by the Malaysian contingent, came through gymnastics (4), tenpin bowling (4), squash (1), equestrian (4), hockey (2), lawn bowls (4), polo (1), sailing (2) and triathlon (1) but unfortunately these sports are not hosted by Laos.
Malaysia's gold medal opportunities were further reduced since national athletes would not be competing in soft tennis, wrestling, muay thai, fin swimming and shuttlecock juggling which offer a total of 65 gold medals.
Laos offers 398 gold medals in the 25 sports contested, but in reality, Malaysia will play no part in the race for 90 of the gold medals.
-- BERNAMA
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