KOTA BAHARU, March 29 — The Ministry of Youth and Sports will expedite the process of scouting for new sporting talents to find backup athletes in a variety of sports.

Its minister, Khairy Jamaluddin said specific plans would be implemented in preparation for producing high performance athletes who could compete at international level.

He said that several sports have been identified and would be given emphasis

by the ministry such as athletics, badminton and swimming.  “These are sports that are short of backup athletes,” he told reporters after opening the National Satellite Centre of the National Sports Institute at the Youth and Sports Complex in Panji, here today.  The minister said the new talent search program would involve all levels, including primary and secondary school students across the country.

Khairy urged athletes and sports associations to fully utilise services and facilities of the satellite centre for the development of sports in Kelantan.  The centre was the seventh of 16 centres in the country, with focus on sports science support services in four basic disciplines such as physical, psychology, physiology and nutrition. — Bernama