KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 15 — The National Sports Institute (ISN) will strengthen its research and development (R&D) programme, focusing specifically on high-potential sports for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics (LA28), with RM15 million in funding allocated by the government.
However, its chief executive officer Ahmad Faedzal Md Ramli said a gap analysis must first be conducted to identify the actual needs of each athlete to ensure the assistance provided is tailored to their specific requirements.
“For the next Olympics, LA 2028, ISN has been allocated funds to enhance R&D efforts to improve athlete performance. Over the next four years, we have RM15 million from the government to explore how artificial intelligence (AI) can contribute to athlete performance.
“For track cycling, we will continue our efforts, but other sports like badminton, squash, diving and weightlifting will also receive attention. We will carry out gap analyses and determine the type of interventions needed based on our findings,” he said during a press conference after the 2024 National Sports Technology Innovation Awards (AITS’24) at the National Sports Council yesterday night.
Faedzal highlighted the success of Malaysia’s cycling team, which used the new WX-R Vorteq bicycle for the 2024 Paris Olympics, as a prime example of the impact of ISN's R&D efforts.
The RM385,800 bicycle is equipped with advanced technology that provides small but significant advantages on the track, enhancing athletes' chances of making a mark on the prestigious stage.
“That is why I have said before, the WX-R Vorteq track bicycle project was an eye-opener — it was a game-changer for Malaysian sports. Through this, we began to understand marginal gains and how R&D technology can truly improve athlete performance.
“Starting with the WX-R Vorteq bicycle project, we are now applying these innovations to other sports with Olympic potential,” he said.
If more R&D successes — like the development of software, analytics and new equipment - can be commercialised for use by both local and international athletes, they could provide a return on investment for the government.
On the AITS’24 awards, Faedzal said this year’s event also highlighted the Women in Sports Innovation Award, which recognises the contributions of women scientists, coaches and gender equality advocates in sports.
“I believe this will open people’s eyes to the vast opportunities available to anyone with ideas, innovations and new products that can be applied to enhance athlete performance and potentially be commercialised for the sports industry,” he said.
— Bernama
