KUALA LUMPUR, May 17 — National sailors bound for the Singapore SEA Games next month have been thrown a challenge by the Malaysia Yatching Association (MYA) to outdo its eight medal tally from the 2013 Myanmar Games.

“I am confident we can win 15 medals from the 17 disciplines. The team is young with plenty of potential. They performed well at the Asian Sailing Federation Youth Cup in Abu Dhabi last month,” said coach Mohd Afendy Abdullah.

Malaysia was the best performer in the optimist category, winning three medals in the boys (two) and girls categories of the laser radial event.

Afendy, while acknowledging the strength of Singapore and Thailand, knows his team is up for the task.

“We must give them exposure by competing against world-class teams, like Thailand and Singapore, so they can be at that level in five or 10 years,” said the coach, who is also MYA general manager.

Afendy’s son, Khairulnizam Mohd Afendy, is expected to retain one of two golds won in 2013 when he competes in the men’s laser standard class.

The 2012 Olympian, who finished 29th among the 140 sailors in last week’s Trentino Olympic Week Regatta in Italy, said that tournament was an ideal warm-up.

“I am happy with my finish but I have to step up my game if I am to retain my gold. Singapore will be represented by Colin Cheng, who beat me at the Asian Games last year. I want to avenge my loss,” said Khairulnizam.

Other medal contenders also include the eight-member team competing in the International 420 and 470 who are training in Athens, Greece, with world No. 1 sailors Panagiotis Mantis and Pavlos Kagialis.

“We won medals in both events at the last Games, and we know they can do better, especially with Nor Adriana Adlyna and Siti Nur Fatihah competing in the women’s 420 event. Their training stint with the Greek pair is an ideal preparation,” said Afendy.

Female sailor Nur Elia Anuar, who was the only female contestant at last year’s Liga Layar Malaysia, will shoulder Malaysia’s interest in the match-racing category.

The Team

Muhammad Dhiauddin Rozaini

Muhammad Fauzi Kaman Shah

Abdul Latif Mansor

Nor Nabila Natasha Mohd Nasri

Nur Aisah Ramlee

Khairulnizam Mohd Afendy

Ahmad Latif Khan

Muhammad FarhanHamid

Khairunneeta Mohd Afendy

Nurliyana Mohamad Latif

Nur Shazrin Mohamad Latif

Asri Azman

Ku Anas Ku Zamil

Muhd Fauzan Roslan

Nuraisyah Jamil

Norashikin Mohamad Sayed

Muhamad Uzair Amin

Naquib Eiman Shahrin

Nor Adriana Adlyna

Siti Nur Fatihah

Rufina Tan

Connie Riverra Tsen

Ahmad Danish

Nurul Elia Anuar

Nur Amirah Hamid

Geh Chow Lin

Umi Norwahida Sallahuddin

Gold on offer: 20

Associations target: Five

Mailsport prediction: Four

Venue: Marina Bay, National Sailing Centre

Last result: Two golds (2013)