PUTRAJAYA, Aug 10 — Malaysia is aiming for seven gold medals in the upcoming Jakarta Palembang 2018 Asian Games, Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman said today.

"As we are all aware, we obtained five gold medals in the 2014 Asian Games held in Incheon, South Korea.”

"For this year, we are aiming for seven gold medals but if luck is on our side and God willing…we hope to obtain a total of 11 gold medals,” he said after the Jalur Gemilang handover ceremony to the Malaysian Contingent at the Prime Minister’s Office.

Asked about the sporting events from which the gold medals could be won, Syed Saddiq said the medals would come from Malaysian athletes competing in cycling, karate, sepak takraw, pencak silat and ten-pin bowling.

Malaysia obtained a total of five gold, 14 silver and 14 bronze medals in the previous Asian Games.

Earlier, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad handed over the Jalur Gemilang to the Malaysian contingent's Chef de Mission for the 2018 Asian Games, Datuk Seri Abdul Azim Mohd Zabidi.

Some 426 athletes and 127 officials will represent Malaysia in 35 events during the regional sporting event from Aug 18 to Sept 2.