KUALA LUMPUR – The Paralympic Council of Malaysia (PCM) is targeting two gold medals at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games as it balances preparations for the Asian Games and Para SUKMA in what promises to be one of its busiest periods.
Speaking to Scoop, PCM president Datuk Seri Megat D. Shahriman Zaharuddin said preparations for Glasgow are on track despite the packed domestic and international schedule.
“Next week, we will be flying to Glasgow, Scotland, for the Commonwealth Games. I do not want to jump the gun, but since the Chef de Mission has already made the announcement, I believe we are targeting around two gold medals,” he told Scoop.
Megat said the Commonwealth Games campaign is only one part of a demanding calendar, with the Asian Games in October and the Para Sukma scheduled for next month.
“Beyond Glasgow, we are also preparing for the Asian Games in October. At the same time, next month we have Para Sukma, so it is a very busy period for PCM,” he said.
The 43-year-old described the council’s operations as “business as usual”, saying PCM has the experience and organisational structure to manage several major events simultaneously.
“These events are part of our regular operations, and we have been handling them for decades. The main focus now is achieving our medal targets and delivering strong performances,” he said.
Megat also revealed that PCM secretary-general R. Subramaniam is currently in Bonn, Germany, attending the International Classification Conference organised by the International Paralympic Committee, reflecting the council’s continued involvement in the global para sports movement.
While expressing confidence in Malaysia’s athletes, Megat stressed the importance of sustained government funding for the development of para sports.
“We hope the government will continue to provide adequate support. There has been no budget cut from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, and we hope that support will continue because funding is crucial for athlete development and international competitions,” he said.
Malaysia’s para athletes have consistently been among the nation’s strongest medal contributors on the international stage, particularly in athletics, powerlifting and badminton.
Over the years, they have produced multiple Paralympic and world champions, including Datuk Abdul Latif Romly, Bonnie Bunyau Gustin and Cheah Liek Hou.
At the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, Malaysia’s para contingent delivered an impressive haul of three gold, two silver and five bronze medals.
The gold medals came through Abdul Latif in the men’s T20 long jump, Bonnie in the men’s heavyweight powerlifting event and Cheah in the men’s singles SL3 badminton competition.
With Glasgow 2026 featuring a smaller programme than previous editions, PCM is hoping its current crop of athletes can once again rise to the occasion and continue Malaysia’s proud tradition at the Commonwealth Games. – July 19, 2026