SO, another year comes to an end and so do the reviews on what has been a mixed 12 months for Malaysian sport.
To some, the progress made this year has not been as rapid as expected, and their argument is strengthened by the millions the Government is spending.
It is, to a certain extent, true as far as some sports are concerned, but the warning signs are already there that it is a matter of time before these associations find themselves reduced to has-beens talking about the glorious yesteryears.
They are content with the limited number of top class athletes in their stable and the foot has been taken off the pedal as far as development is concerned and they will, as football went on to realise, pay a heavy price.
For some, this is a Government move to punish associations, but is it?
Performance brings rewards and that is what the ranking system aims to do -- reward associations who are focused on all aspects of sport.
The ranking system should not only be about rewarding associations who are delivering medals presently. The system should also carefully look at what these sports have to offer in terms of athletes when the present batch leave the scene.
If there is one association that doesn't have to worry about its immediate and long term future, it has to be the Malaysian Tenpin Bowling Congress (MTBC).
Who can dispute the fact that not only does MTBC have a solid senior team -- though it must be pointed out that the men have got to stamp their mark as emphatically as the women --its junior ranks are also filled with quality bowlers.
The only sad thing for Malaysia is that bowling is not an Olympic sport, otherwise we would not be placing all our hopes on badminton come the Beijing Games in August.
But bowling is a success story that other associations can and should emulate and we have to remember that when a national bowler wins even a Sea Games gold, it is equivalent to winning an Asian Games gold as Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Singapore are equally big players in the sport at Asian level.
And it is never too late to start.
As we prepare to usher in 2008, all Malaysian sport needs is for five associations to pledge that their mode of operations and focus will change and if what the experts say is true, that it takes eight years to produce a world class athlete, by the time the 2016 Olympic Games come around, we will have medal prospects in several more sports.
For the moment, it is badminton, though Timesport's Arnaz M. Khairul is insistent that cycling has a chance as well, that we are targeting and hoping for medals in Beijing.
Badminton must, for if it fails, it will mean that Malaysia's next chance will be in London 2012 but that would mean 16 years since Malaysia last appeared on the medal tally of the Olympics.
And this is a challenge not only to the BA of Malaysia but also the National Sports Council (NSC) as well.
The pressure on NSC, its director general Datuk Zolkples Embong will agree, will be even more immense than the Korat Sea Games were, but having guided Malaysia to a best-ever haul of gold medals outside the country, Zolkples and his men should be confident.
Zolkples must get BAM and the other associations whose athletes have or will qualify for Beijing, to agree that Beijing is a national project and there should not be turf wars.
If cycling has a chance, then the cyclists must be given whatever aid possible for them to have a shot at winning and the same should apply to all the others who have or are trying to qualify.
The principle for 2008 should be to better 2007 and this is one approach that should satisfy all.
HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM TIMESPORT.
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