THERE’S no sugar-coating it – national athletics is in disarray just eight months before the 2025 SEA Games in Thailand this December.
A growing standoff between national sprinters and technical director Robert Ballard has sparked walkouts, exposed leadership gaps, and drawn an ultimatum from Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh: resolve it, or risk derailing athlete preparations.
At the heart of the dispute is a group of top athletes who said they have stopped training under Ballard, claiming a lack of structure, declining performance, and being threatened with the possible non-renewal of contracts if they refused to comply.
Ballard has since denied those claims, insisting decentralised training is supported by Malaysia Athletics (MA) and that no threats were made. He called the allegations defamatory and said he’s seeking legal advice.
Regardless of who said what, the bottom line remains: every week spent arguing is a week lost in preparation. The SEA Games are no longer a distant target – it’s on the horizon. Athletes who should be laser-focused on fine-tuning their form are instead caught in administrative limbo.
This isn’t about picking sides. It’s about recognising that elite sports wait for no one.
MA president Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim has promised to chart a “win-win” path forward at an upcoming meeting on April 24. That’s a step in the right direction, but it must come with urgency and action, not just statements.
The governing body has already struggled to provide consistent coaching support. Sprinters, throwers, and jumpers have faced disruptions post-Hangzhou 2022. Promises to appoint new coaches – local and international – have been slow to materialise. One athlete, Jackie Wong, has had to train independently in China. Others, like Grace Wong, remain in limbo.
Hannah’s call to nip it in the bud could not have come at a more critical juncture. Internal disputes are expected in high-performance sports, but they cannot be allowed to fester. Once trust erodes – between athletes, coaches, and administrators – rebuilding takes far longer than any competition cycle allows.
The clock is ticking. The 2025 SEA Games will not wait for Malaysian athletics to get its house in order.
Let this be a turning point – not just to resolve a boycott, but to rebuild a system athletes can believe in. – April 23, 2025
Julie Jalaluddin is an assistant news editor at Scoop