“It’s our way or the highway,” says Datuk Megat Zulkarnain Omardin, the secretary general of the National Silat Federation (PESAKA) at a press conference at Wisma OCM in Kuala Lumpur today.
While announcing the changes to the team list based on the performances of the silat athletes at the recent Belgium Open in May, PESAKA have also cautioned the participants that no one is irreplacable.
“Nobody gets a free ride,” said Megat.
PESAKA had set a target of eight gold medals, four silvers and six bronzes and in preparation for the 29th SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur this August, the athletes will not be celebrating Hari Raya this year.
To prepare them mentally, PESAKA are set to send their recruits to Vietnam from 19 June to 9 July.
“By then Hari Raya is over. It has been a routine that whenever they are back from the Raya celebrations, it takes us a month to groom them again,” he added.
“We are forced to take drastic measures this time round. If the recruits are not happy with the decision made, then the door is always open. We have other athletes who are willing to sacrifice to get the results that we want.”
According to Megat, after their trip to Vietnam, the athletes will be put to the last phase of training – another mental test in the jungle for five days and four nights before heading to Cameron Highlands for their final lap in preparations for the Games.
“This is a combat sport. We have set a realistic target for the athletes. They are fit and they have the technique. The only preparation left is their mental strength,” added Megat. – BY ALVIN OH
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