KUALA LUMPUR, May 23 ― The Malaysian Athletics Federation (MAF) is bent on resurrecting the country’s status as a Southeast Asian powerhouse when Malaysia hosts the 2017 SEA Games on home soil.

With the map to the Games already drawn, athletes bound for Singapore next month have been told to improve on their 13-medal haul from two years ago in Myanmar, where the team finished fifth among eight nations.

“We have a potential of winning 20 to 23 medals, which is a massive increase,” said MAF’s technical director Robert Ballard.

“The distribution of medals could vary, depending on the athletes we send. MAF has nominated 47 athletes, including those who met last SEA Games' silver medal target.

“The contingent might be downsized after the Perak Open (today and tomorrow). MAF will advise Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) on who to withdraw,” said the Australian, who has been with MAF for about a year.

“If the team is reduced, so would the medals expectations.”

Expectations have risen following the emergence of strong contenders in several categories and the improvement of the women's team, which clinched a silver and a bronze medal in Myanmar.

“We are ranked first in four events, including women’s hammer, men’s high jump, men’s discuss and men’s triple jump. We also changed our approach towards the level of high performance and have genuine potential in the women’s team,” said Ballard.

“Zaidatul Husniah Zulkiffli, for instance, ran 11.62s and is a serious medal prospect. Yap Jeng Tzan is ranked second in the region in women’s discuss while Shereen Samson Vallabouy qualified for the World Youth Championships in the 200m and 400m.

“We are definitely expecting more than two medals this time.”

Reigning men's high jump champion, Nauraj Singh Randhawa, is gearing up well to defend his title after soaring to gold at the Canberra Track Classic in February and Queensland Track Classic in March. He also finished fourth overall at the Australian Athletics Tours Final.

“Competing against Olympians and World Championships finalists greatly benefitted me in terms of experience,” said Nauraj.

“MAF has marked high jump as one of its gold medal prospects, which motivates me to fulfil that aim,” said the 22-year-old, who hopes to shake off a foot injury before next month.