May it be golden year of the rat for M'sia at Olympics - Steven

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 20 -- It is hoped that the Year of the Rat will bring luck to Malaysia to win its first Olympic gold, said Youth and Sports Deputy Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong.

He said it is the hope of all Malaysians that the wait for the country’s first Olympic gold medal would end this year.

"In this aspect, I am confident that all athletes, sports officials, the Olympic Council of Malaysia and national sports associations are working hard to fulfil the people’s aspiration. We will continue to give our support to the athletes in their pursuit of glory.

"We hope this year will bring more 'Ong' (luck) to our athletes at the international level. I urge Malaysians to continue supporting them,” he told reporters after recording his Chinese New Year message together with National Sports Council director-general Datuk Ahmad Shapawi Ismail and national athletes here tonight. Chinese New Year falls on Jan 25.

Since making its debut in the 1956 Olympics, Malaysia has been chasing after the elusive gold. The closest any athlete came to realising that dream was badminton legend Datuk Lee Chong Wei, who won three silver medals, in 2008, 2012 and 2016.

At Rio 2016, apart from Chong Wei in men’s singles, men’s doubles pair Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong and mixed doubles pair Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying, and Cheong Jun Hoong-Pandelela Rinong (women’s 10m platform synchronised diving) also won silver while Mohd Azizulhasni Awang (keirin cycling) won bronze. 

Athletes who have qualified for the Tokyo Olympics are gymnast Farah Ann Abdul Hadi (individual all-around), sailor Khairulnizam Mohd Afendy (men’s laser), Nur Shazrin Mohd Latif (women’s laser radial), Nuraisyah Jamil and Juni Karimah Noor Jamali (women’s international 470) and archer Khairul Anuar Mohamad (men’s recurve).

In diving, Nur Dhabitah Sabri, Wendy Ng Yan Yee (women’s 3m springboard) and Pandelela (women’s 10m platform) and Pandelela-Leong Mun Yee (women’s 10m platform synchro) have also confirmed their Olympic slots.

With the Olympic qualification period for several sports still open, more Malaysian athletes especially badminton players and cyclists are expected to qualify to Tokyo.

-- BERNAMA