‘Stop pampering athletes’: Pekan slams KBS’s 200-medal SEA Games target

Veteran sports analyst Datuk Dr Pekan Ramli said the Youth and Sports Ministry’s decision to set a target of 200 medals without specifying colours for the 2025 SEA Games has been criticised as a “pampering” approach that risks lowering the performance drive of Malaysian athletes. - Scoop file pic, December 5, 2025
Sports

‘Stop pampering athletes’: Pekan slams KBS’s 200-medal SEA Games target


Veteran sports analyst Datuk Dr Pekan Ramli criticises the Youth and Sports Ministry’s 200-medal target for the 2025 SEA Games, calling it a “pampering” approach that may curb athletes’ competitive drive and undermine Malaysia’s medal potential



Sandru Narayanan
Updated 21 hours ago
5 December, 2025
9:00 PM MYT

KUALA LUMPUR – The Youth and Sports Ministry’s decision to set a target of 200 medals without specifying colours for the 2025 SEA Games has been criticised as a “pampering” approach that risks lowering the performance drive of Malaysian athletes.

Speaking to Scoop, veteran sports analyst Datuk Dr Pekan Ramli said the target may appear safe for team management, but described it as a non-dynamic strategy that fails to push the national contingent towards a higher competitive standard.

He argued that avoiding medal-colour targets under the pretext of reducing pressure on athletes was impractical and could encourage complacency.

“If we want our athletes to progress and compete with a champion’s mentality, we should not pamper them with targets like this. They will not go far with such a mindset.

“They need strong psychological exposure to handle pressure. Surely we can apply at least some pressure. If they cannot cope with that, they may as well compete at lower-level events.

“With a target like this, I do not see any motivational spark being injected into the athletes. They should be challenged so that they are pushed to give their very best.

“If 200 medals is considered realistic, it suggests we have neither the aspiration nor the confidence to aim for a higher achievement. We should set the bar higher and work towards reaching it.

“Setting a low target, hitting it, and then claiming excellence because we happened to exceed it is not the right approach,” Pekan said when contacted.

Malaysia earlier opted for a cautious strategy by setting a target of 200 total medals—regardless of colour—for the Thailand edition of the SEA Games, which officially begins on December 9.

Given the 1,142 athletes sent—the largest contingent in national history—the figure was viewed as modest, particularly as Malaysia will be competing in all 50 sports contested at the Games.

Pekan also admitted the target was surprising, especially with the Thailand edition offering 50 events, 14 more than the previous Games in Cambodia.

“Based on this bulk-target approach, we could actually reach between 230 and 250 medals. If the target is supposedly based on athletes’ performances, we should be capable of winning even more.

“Not only are there more events, but several of our strong sports—such as squash and bowling—are included. Cambodia have also withdrawn from eight events, which further increases our medal prospects.

“We are also sending our best athletes to Thailand, and our back-up teams remain strong in several sports. So why limit ourselves to 200 medals?

“We should not fear the possibility of achieving our worst performance. If that happens, then what does it say about the work done over the past two years?” he said. – December 5, 2025

***

Poor Hannah playing safe, wakakaka