KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 3 — Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin expressed confidence that the newly-established Malaysian Ski and Snowboard Team (MSST) will qualify for the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

His confidence was based on a training sponsorship for the team by the Genting Group at the Genting Resort Garden in China, which he said would be a massive boost for the team to make a major breakthrough in the games by qualifying for the first time.

He said this when launching the MSST team at the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM), here, today.

The team comprises the Mirzan brothers, Khadijah and Othman and also American born-Malaysian skier, Jeffrey Webb.

Later during a press conference, Khairy said the ministry was discussing the team’s budget with the Ski Malaysia on MSST’s participation in international ski competitions for exposure.

Khairy also did not rule out the possibility that three events being contested in the Winter Olympic Games — Ice Hockey, Figure Skating and Speed Skating — will be held for the first time in the 2017 SEA Games, where Malaysia is the host.

Ski Malaysia President, Tan Sri Shahril Shamsuddin on the other hand, believed the seven-year plan being initiated by the association will be a good platform for the team to pursue glory at international ski competitions.

The 7-year plan is a base structure outlining potential Malaysian representation to chase a slot for international ski events such as the 2017 FIS Alpine World Championships in Switzerland, 2021 Asian Winter Games and 2022 Winter Olympic Games.  

Khadijah, 19, a Dartmouth College student in New Hampshire, United States said she was honoured to represent the country.

“It has been two years since I took part in any competitive tournament due to my ankle injury sustained in Feb 2013. Hopefully, in a couple months I can resume action,” she said.

Sharing Khadijah’s views was Jeffrey, 17, who aims to put Malaysia on the international ski map.

“Of course, it was an honour to represent the country and though we do not have a winter season here, I am ready to take the challenge and bring Malaysian ski to another level with other skiers,” said the United States’ Dan Manson High School student. — Bernama