In a heartfelt appeal, Walter Lee is calling on Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh to intervene in the selection process for the Paris Paralympic Games, after his son, Zy Lee Kher, was unexpectedly excluded from the event.
Zy Lee Kher, a distinguished national para swimmer, has earned acclaim for breaking Asian records and securing qualification in three events for the upcoming Games. However, despite his impressive achievements, Zy was passed over in favour of a lower-ranked competitor.
Walter Lee is questioning the fairness of the selection criteria used by the Paralympic Council of Malaysia (PCM) and the Malaysian Para Swimming Association (Prepma). According to report, the PCM president explained that selections were based on performance timings rather than world rankings. Zy, despite being a top performer with a second-highest ranking, was deemed less likely to win medals compared to competitors Syaiful and Imaan, leading to his exclusion.
Walter argues that the decision lacks transparency and fails to recognize Zys significant accomplishments, including his gold medal wins at the Asian Youth Para Games 2021 and the ASEAN Para Games 2023, where he set a new games record.
As Zy Lee Kher has represented Malaysia with distinction for five years, his family is urging to reevaluate the selection process to ensure that merit and past achievements are properly considered.
