NANJING, Aug 15 — Malaysia’s younger generation (Gen-Y) athletes who are participating at the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) 2014, which officially kicked off on Monday, do not plan to return home empty handed.

They have vowed to scoop up a medal or two, never mind the colour, in the world standard youth sports championship.

High jumper Norshafiee Mohd Shah said although he was not expected to win in his event, he still aimed to contribute a medal for the country.

“I am aware of the high competitive level but it is not an excuse for us as Gen-Y athletes to fear our competitors.

“I want to bring back a medal even though it appears impossible, looking at the world class athletes such as those from Russia, Australia and the Netherlands,” he told Bernama here today. 

Norshafiee, 17, who will enter the preliminary round on Wednesday (Aug 28), is relying on his achievement at the Asian Athletics Qualifying Meet in Thamassat, Thailand in May.

The athlete from Terengganu managed a jump of 2.06 metres to take second position at the meet, and has set 2.10 metres as his target to reach the quarter finals in the YOG 2014.

Meanwhile, Mohd Rizzua Haizad, 17, who will be running the 110 metres hurdles will concentrate on reaching the quarter finals before pinning his hopes on a medal.

His personal best currently stands at 13.87 seconds, made at the same qualifying meet in Thailand.

“I am targeting to break my personal record down to 13.50s,” said the athlete from Sarawak.

Norshafiee and Mohd Rizzua are two of three Gen-Y athletes selected by the the national athletics camp to gain some exposure in the international challenge; the third is Kirthana Ramasamy, who will compete in the women’s triple jump event.

The National Sports Council and Olympic Council of Malaysia had earlier announced that they had not set any medal target in the YOG 2014 although Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin was optimistic that some of the athletes were capable of giving a surprise.

Aside from athletics, Malaysia is also taking part in other events such as aquatic (swimming and diving), badminton, gymnastics (artistic and rhythmic), golf, archery, shooting, sailing, taekwondo and equestrian.

Malaysia sent 13 Gen-Y athletes to the first edition of the YOG in Singapore four years ago and returned home with two silver medals through national diving queen Pandelela Rinong Pamg. — Bernama