National Sports Council (NSC) director general Datuk Seri Zolkples Embong said the NSC had agreed to send 529 athletes, comprising 404 athletes under Category A and 125 under Category B.
However, the actual size of the contingent has yet to be finalised since the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) has yet to receive the list of athletes from the Malaysian Athletics Union (MAU).
Zolkples said though some athletes would be participating in the games under Category B, their ability should not cast a doubt because they too have proven to be gold medal winners in the past.
“In the past we have a history of Category B athletes winning gold medals. Therefore, if they tried hard, they too can be medal winners,” he told reporters after opening a coaching course for Wushu, here, today.
The expenses to send athletes under Category B would be borne by their respective associations but such expenses reimbursed if they win gold or silver medals.
The expenses of athletes under Category A will be borne by OCM.
Malaysia will not be competing in four of the 31 sports contested, namely vovinam, traditional boat race, wrestling and kempo.
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