Malaysian Contingent To Head To Rio Despite Zika Virus Scare

KUALA LUMPUR, May 17 (Bernama) -- Malaysia is sticking to its plan to send a contingent to participate in the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, even though the South American country was currently affected by the Zika virus. Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said the National Sports Institute was constantly monitoring the health situation, including the spread of the virus. "Based on the reports we have received so far, there has been no change...but we are taking precautionary measures, especially for officials, coaches and athletes who have qualified for the Olympics. "We have also informed them on the basic sanitation and hygiene which must be practiced from now ... we're monitoring the situation ... and no country has so far pulled out," he told reporters here, Monday. Fourteen athletes have qualified for the Olympics on merit, namely, Pandelela Rinong, Cheong Jun Hoong and Wendy Ng Yan Yee, Ooi Tze Liang and Nur Dhabitah Sabri (diving); Azizulhasni Awang and Fatehah Mustapa (cycling); Jonathan Wong (shooting); Welson Sim (swimming); Khairul Anuar Mohamad (archery); Khairulnizam Mohd Afendy and Nur Shazrin (sailing); Suraj Singh (high jump); as well as a slot in the weightlifting event. The Malaysian Weightlifting Federation, however, has yet to decide on the athlete who would represent the country at the Games. Meanwhile, Khairy said it would be a good exposure for the national rugby team to participate in a play-off match to qualify for the Asian Rugby Championship Top Three. "We have nothing to lose, because even if we are defeated (in the match) we will still remain champions of Division One. If we win, we will be able to join Asian rugby's premier championship," he said. The national team would have to play against the last placed team in the Asian Rugby Championship Top Three, which is currently being participated by Japan, Hong Kong, and South Korea. --BERNAMA