‘I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I’ve been successful.’
Michael Jordan, US basketball star
BADMINTON is a favourite sport of mine and I consider myself a die-hard badminton fan.
I have faithfully played badminton till I was 50 and after that age, you will realise that the game can be quite strenuous on your body, particularly your legs.
To those of us who play sports leisurely, we do know when it’s time to give up on the tougher ones and switch to less strenuous games. Like taking table tennis and golf after badminton and football, for example. Even going for brisk walks suffices as a form of exercise for seniors.
Malaysia is a sport-loving nation and for Malaysians, sports have always been a source of inspiration and motivation. From athletes and coaches to fans and enthusiasts, sports have the power to uplift spirits, build character and teach valuable life lessons.
I’m happy that we have a sports minister today who is an all-round sports enthusiast in the person of Hannah Yeoh. Having known Hannah personally and after observing her performances as an elected representative over the years, I can vouch that the minister will diligently fulfil all her duties and responsibilities and more importantly, excel in them.
I’m also aware that Hannah is very determined to see Malaysia win its first Olympic gold during her watch.
In March last year, the sports ministry launched the ‘Road to Gold 2024’ programme in a bid to achieve success at this year’s Olympics in Paris.
The initiative aims to give Malaysia’s best athletes the support they need to win medals at the highest level.
A major goal is winning the country’s first-ever Olympic gold medal, with Malaysia only boasting eight silvers and five bronzes to date since its debut in Melbourne in 1956.
This record makes Malaysia the most successful Olympic nation never to have topped a podium.
A group of 18 athletes are currently part of Road to Gold, alongside the national hockey team. The scheme is co-chaired by Hannah and Olympic Council of Malaysia president Tan Sri Norza Zakaria.
I wish Hannah the best in achieving her dream of an Olympic gold for Malaysia this coming July-August in Paris, but we have to be realistic too.
It’s not impossible but the odds are heavily stacked against us. Why? The key factor is that we are only dependent on a single sport and realistically speaking, the best chance we have of getting a gold is in badminton.
Malaysia used to be somewhere among the top teams in hockey but somehow, we have lagged far behind in recent times.
Unfortunately, squash and bowling, in which Malaysians are among the best in the world, are not Olympic events. So, we are stuck at badminton, our best bet for gold.
Lee Chong Wei won the silver medal in the men’s singles at three consecutive Olympics after losing the Beijing 2008, London 2012 and Rio 2016 finals. It was so near, yet so far for Lee and Malaysia.
The 2024 Thomas Cup edition has just ended a few days ago. Although Malaysia managed to enter the semi-final, the 3-1 defeat by China, clearly showed where we stand.
We are far, far behind teams like China, Indonesia, Denmark and even India. The lack of depth in our singles is still holding Malaysia back.
National coaching director Rexy Mainaky highlighted Malaysia’s over-reliance on Lee Zii Jia as one of the main causes of the defeat.
Even more worrying is that Zii Jia is the only local shuttler with a top 10 world ranking while BAM’s current top player, Ng Tze Yong, who was absent due to a back injury, is ranked 18th, followed by Jun Hao (37th), June Wei (63rd) and Justin (233rd).
So, is Zii Jia good for gold at the coming Paris Olympics? Honest, I have to say “No” but I wish to be proven wrong.
As I assess Zii Jia, I believe he has the speed, stamina, skills and court craft. What he lacks is the mental strength to turn around a game in his favour whenever he is trailing.
I have witnessed how often Zii Jia gets jittery whenever he is about to lose a match or when he is trailing towards the end of a game. He would be attempting difficult shots and giving away precious points.
However, there is still a glimmer of hope for an Olympic gold in
Paris. I see an opportunity, albeit a slim chance in the two doubles – Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik and Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani – following their show in the Thomas Cup 2024.
Although capable of fighting against the world’s top 10 pair, Aaron-Wooi Yik, ranked fifth, still needs to be more consistent ahead of Paris 2024 while Sze Fei-Izzuddin must know how to deal with converting crucial points to win the match.
Our first Olympic gold could well come from Aaron and Wooi Yik. It’s a tall order to expect that from our shuttlers but let’s keep our fingers crossed, shall we?
The views expressed here are those of the columnist and do not necessarily represent the views of New Sarawak Tribune.
