Injured Noraseela out

NATIONAL athlete Noraseela Khalid is definitely out of the Sea Games.

This was confirmed by National Sports Institute (NSI) director general Datuk Dr Ramlan Aziz in Bukit Jalil yesterday.

"There are a few steps that we must take care before we determine whether an athlete can compete if they injured. In this case there was no letter from the attending medical officer that she (Noraseela) can't compete as she is still recovering," said Ramlan.

"But since I was told by the Sports Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said to look into it, we had Noraseela checked by Prof John George at the Universiti Hospital and we saw the scan results.

"Yes, there is a tear (about 1cm-2cm). It is the spasm that is around it that is causing the pain and at this point in time, she can only jog." Ramlan added that when Norasheela was placed in the bio-mechanic rotation tank, he found that she could hardly raise her left leg.
Noraseela, who was down to compete in the 400m hurdles in Korat, will be out for between six to eight weeks and she will continue her treatment at ISN.

National Sports Council director gerenal Datuk Zolkples Embong, who also attended the press conferencve, said: "We want her to be ready and prepare for the Olympics qualification in Europe. That is most important thing right now, and we will do all we can to get her back on track."

Noraseela, in her defence, said: "I was surprised to read in the newspapers about this issue. All I can say is that I am trying my best to recover in time to prepare for the Olympics qualifying. "It is a new injury and I can't do anything about it."



Earlier, Azalina announced that there will a paradigm shift as the NSC board has decided to focus on the 2012 Olympics and backwards. New athletes will be identified and prepared for the Olympics.

"We want to look from 2012 backwards instead of starting the preparation from the Sea Games, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and then Olympics. I have instructed the NSC to work on this and only focus on those Olympic sports that can deliver," Azalina said after chairing the NSC board meeting in Bukit Jalil.

Azalina also said she is happy with the Olympic Council of Malaysia rating system findings from the eight associations.

The eight sports that were tested with the rating system were athletics, swimming, sepaktakraw, badminton, lawn bowls, baseball, bowling and weightlifting.

New Straits Times