KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 7 — Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin hopes athletes who did well at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in Scotland, would continue their fine performances when the Asian Games starts in Incheon, South Korea on Sept 19.

Khairy named sports like squash, badminton, diving, hockey and tenpin bowling among sports that would shoulder the country’s hopes of winning medals in Incheon.

In the Commonwealth Games which ended on July 14, Malaysia won six gold, seven silver and six bronze medals.

The six gold medals came from badminton, squash, weightlifting and diving.

The squash gold came through Datuk Nicol David, Ooi Tze Liang contributed a gold in diving while badminton were the biggest contributors with three gold medals.

“Medal targets are placed on those who won medals in the Commonwealth Games...I hope the better can deliver in the Asian Games,” he told reporters after launching the Fit Malaysia programme at Dataran Merdeka, here today.

He added that it was his hope that athletes would strengthen their spirit and dedication through the centralised training programme that starts at the IOI Palm Garden Resort Hotel in Putrajaya tomorrow.

The Asian Games contingent will comprise 288 athletes and 133 officials. — Bernama