‘The trouble with most of us is that we would rather be ruined by praise than saved by criticism.’ – Norman Vincent Peale, American author
As the Paris Olympics came to a close on August 11, let me review Malaysia’s performance at the 2024 Games.
This serves as a follow-up to my article in this column last week, where I discussed Malaysia’s pursuit of the elusive Olympic gold.
I must be honest and direct. I am very disappointed that we returned from Paris with only two bronze medals, both from badminton.
In past Olympics, we have secured medals in various sports such as swimming/diving and cycling, in addition to badminton. However, this time, we failed to secure medals in other events.
Our cyclist, Dato Mohd Azizulhasni bin Awang, who clinched silver in Tokyo 2021, was disqualified and had to withdraw from his fifth Olympics keirin race without even racing.
This also signifies the conclusion of his illustrious career, during which he earned two Olympic medals – a silver and a bronze. Unfortunately, the gold remained elusive. For Malaysia, this marks the end of a memorable era.
Nevertheless, Malaysians should take pride in Azizul for his exceptional accomplishments in previous Olympics, and we owe him our deepest gratitude for bringing glory to the nation.
On Friday, August 9, national diver Nur Dhabitah Sabri finished without a medal in her third Olympic Games.
Dhabitah finished last in the 12-member field final. She garnered 244.80 points after five rounds in the women’s 3m springboard event in Paris.
While Dhabitah did not secure a medal for Malaysia, we fondly remember her efforts at the previous Tokyo Olympics, where she ultimately finished fourth in the women’s 3m springboard final.
We miss Dato Pandelela Rinong and Cheong Jun Hoong, our seasoned Olympic campaigners, but their competitive diving days have come to an end. We must nurture new talents to take their place.
Are the two bronze medals sufficient for Malaysia to merit a grand celebration? I believe not. It was a subpar outcome, nothing to boast about. Our athletes did not meet our expectations.
However, we must honour the winners. They deserve recognition for their hard work and sacrifices.
I am not perpetually pessimistic when discussing Malaysian sports. I genuinely aspire to be an optimist.
Yet, considering the current state of affairs and the standard of our athletes, I am sceptical about witnessing Malaysia clinch the elusive Olympic gold in my lifetime.
This time, I genuinely hope to be proven wrong.
I was surprised by those who believed that our Olympians who underperformed in Paris should not face criticism.
One notable figure is our badminton legend, Datuk Lee Chong Wei, who has urged individuals to refrain from making derogatory remarks about Malaysian athletes while hiding behind anonymous profiles following the conclusion of the Paris Olympics.
Lee emphasized, “Don’t be a keyboard warrior. The Malaysian team has delivered exceptional performances over the last two weeks. To the athletes, you are heroes and heroines. Thank you for putting on an excellent show. Learn from this experience and strive for improvement next time.”
I do not agree with Lee that individuals criticizing our athletes are mere keyboard warriors and that their negative reactions have demoralized our Olympians.
In sports, criticism can also be construed as advice and motivation for our budding athletes and should not always be perceived negatively.
To our Olympians, here is my message to you today: Train like a champion. Play like a champion. Fight like a champion. Win like a champion. Endure criticism like a champion as well.
If you cannot handle criticism, you lack focus and mental fortitude. Succumbing to self-pity and emotional turmoil because of criticism is not characteristic of a true champion. Remember that.
I have commended our athletes numerous times in my column over the years. Hence, I believe it is also valid to critique them.
In conclusion, to me, securing two bronze medals was a disappointment this time, especially considering that Malaysia won bronze in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics through Razif-Jailani Sidek.
It has been 32 long years since then, and Malaysia, long regarded as a badminton powerhouse, has yet to move beyond bronze. If you are not embarrassed, allow me to express my shame for Malaysia – seemingly only capable of securing third place.
This time, we implemented the RTG (Road To Gold) program, investing RM20 million with hopes of securing a gold medal, which did not materialize. This is a complete failure!
By now, we should have surpassed Lee Chong Wei’s three silvers. However, we have regressed instead. This forms the basis of my critique this time.
The views expressed here are those of the columnist and do not necessarily represent the views of the Sarawak Tribune.
