M'SIA TO SEND 43 ATHLETES TO YOUTH COMMONWEALTH GAMES

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 5 (Bernama) -- The Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) will send 43 athletes, all under 18, to participate in the Third Youth Commonwealth Games in Pune, India next month.

The seven-day games will begin on Oct 12.

OCM honorary-secretary Sieh Kok Chi said the Malaysians would compete
in athletics, badminton, boxing, shooting, swimming, table-tennis and
weightlifting.

"All athletes were nominated by their respective associations before the
OCM
selection committee endorsed their participation," he told Bernama here
today.

Kok Chi said the games actually offered nine sports, including wrestling
and
tennis, but OCM did not recieve any nomination from their local
associations.

"The games are open to all Commonwealth countries but participation on
certain sports are limited," he added.

Kok Chi said there would be eight athletes, badminton (eight), boxing
(three), shooting (six), swimming (eight), table-tennis (four) and weightlifting
(six), adding that the games were actually a run-up and trial event to the 19th
Commonwealth Games to be held in New Delhi from Oct 3-14 in 2010.

Over 1,300 athletes and 350 officials from 71 Commonwealth countries will
participate in the Pune Games.