Kuala Lampur:The National Sports Council (NSC) is considering expanding Malaysia's medal prospects by exploring emerging sports following their impressive performances at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, NSC director-general Jefri Ngadirin highlighted the potential of emerging sports such as padel and e-sports to significantly impact the national contingent's success. Malaysia made history by winning its first gold medal in e-sports at the Asian Games, adding to a previous silver medal in Hangzhou 2022, which demonstrated e-sports' potential contribution to future medal tallies.

Taj Izrin Aiman Taj Madira secured gold in the Gran Turismo 7 (GT7) event, marking Malaysia's first-ever e-sports gold at the Asian Games. Additionally, the debut of padel at the Games was notable, with Christian Didier Chin and Aidan Yunus winning silver in the men's doubles event.

Jefri emphasized the importance of focusing on potential new sports, such as mixed martial arts (MMA), surfing, and sport climbing, while also strengthening sports with proven medal potential. He stressed that the NSC is eager to collaborate with relevant associations to provide the necessary support for athlete development and competitiveness.

The initiative aims to diversify Malaysia's medal base by developing more sports capable of competing for gold, rather than relying predominantly on a few disciplines. Jefri noted the need for a refined and expanded strategy to ensure continued success across various sports.