Malaysia may have exceeded its 200-medal target at the Thailand SEA Games, bringing home 231 medals, including 57 golds, but sports science expert Dr. Ahmad Fadzlee Ahmad Idris argues that the milestone reflects low expectations rather than real sporting progress.
Speaking on the Timesport: On the Beat podcast, the former national rugby team head coach described the target as “colourless” and too easy to achieve, given the broad scope and the number of athletes sent. “We achieved the target, but it’s not the target we want,” he said. “It’s a safe position, set so it can be reached without genuine improvement in performance quality.”
Ahmad Fadzlee pointed out that medal counts alone are a poor measure of progress, particularly in competitions with limited participation. “Some tournaments only have six countries competing. Targets are set so it looks like we achieved something, but it’s not a very reasonable benchmark,” he said.
He also noted that Malaysia’s gold medal tally (57) lagged behind host Thailand’s 233, a reversal from previous SEA Games performances. While the total medal count may satisfy short-term expectations, Ahmad Fadzlee warned that focusing solely on SEA Games success risks widening the gap between regional results and higher-level competitions such as the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, and Olympics.
“The SEA Games should be a starting point, not a destination,” he said. He added that Malaysia’s athlete development system overly emphasizes regional results while failing to cultivate the pressure-handling and competitive mindset needed at the elite level. “To be an athlete, you need to face real pressure. Without it, you won’t progress.”
He urged sports associations to reassess their development pathways and competitive exposure. “If we’re only comfortable achieving targets here, how do we expect to go further?”
