PUTRAJAYA, Sept 18 (Bernama) -- Malaysia will field its top athletes at the 2027 SEA Games, aiming for the maximum gold medal haul and the overall title when the regional sporting event is hosted across Sarawak, Penang, Johor and Kuala Lumpur from Sept 18 to 29, 2027.
Chef de Mission for the Peninsular cluster Datuk Iruan Zulkefli said no exemptions will be granted to the nation's top athletes, including Asian Games and Olympic medalists with strong medal potential.
He said the squad will also feature promising young athletes to gain international experience ahead of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games (LA28).
"All top athletes capable of winning medals will feature. We will not leave behind those who have won at the Asian Games or earned Olympic medals.
"However, our preparation for this SEA Games edition also aims to unearth new talents and fresh champions to prepare them for the LA28 Olympics," he told reporters after the one-year countdown celebration for the 34th SEA Games and 14th ASEAN Para Games 2027, here today.
Iruan said Malaysia will send its largest-ever contingent, with around 1,300 athletes expected to compete.
He said the large squad gives Malaysia a chance to win gold through experienced athletes while allowing younger competitors to gain experience at the SEA Games.
Iruan said he is optimistic that Malaysia can repeat its overall champion finish from the 2017 Kuala Lumpur Games, though the gold medal target is not yet set.
"I believe we are capable of creating history by emerging as overall champions once again. We have not fixed a specific medal tally, but an official announcement will be made in due course," he said.
-- BERNAMA