KUALA LUMPUR: National contingent deputy chef de mission Datuk Nicol David gave an assurance that the Malaysian medical team travelling with national athletes to the Paris Olympics is prepared to handle any emergency.
This statement comes in light of the tragic death of promising shuttler Zhang Zhijie from China, who suffered a cardiac arrest at the Asia Junior Championships in Indonesia on Sunday.
The 17-year-old was rushed to the hospital but died later that night after repeated efforts to resuscitate him failed. There was an outcry online following claims of "delayed response" in providing first aid to the shuttler.
In response, the Badminton World Federation (BWF) issued a statement saying they would be reviewing their policies and procedures for handling emergencies during matches.
Nicol is also confident that the medical services provided by the organisers at the Paris Olympics will be of the highest standard.
National Sports Institute (NSI) medical personnel will also be on standby to handle any issues the national contingent faces.
"It's really such a shock to see what happened. It is very unfortunate that a 17-year-old had that (issue) and there was no real assistance in place," said Nicol today.
"We, obviously, always have our NSI team available to secure whatever is necessary.
"But at the Olympic Games, there will definitely be the entire medical team involved (from organisers) and ambulances in place, because that is the standard that the Olympic Games have to offer.
"Any athletes who face such situations will be assisted immediately. We will (also) have our team to provide support, they will have medical assistance in place."
Nicol was speaking after attending a simulation match between Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik and Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzudin Rumsani at Academy Badminton Malaysia (ABM) in Bukit Kiara today. The game was also attended by chef de mission Datuk Hamidin Amin.
The BA of Malaysia have been helping national shuttlers prepare for the Olympics by having them play matches in an environment simulating the Olympic atmosphere. Olympic logos have been set-up across the practice court at ABM.
This is to allow Paris-bound Aaron-Wooi Yik, Pearly Tan-M.Thinaah and Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei to get a feel for the courts at the Games.
In today's match play, Aaron and Wooi Yik lost the deciding game by a two-point margin.