The 2024 Paris Olympics offered unforgettable moments for Malaysian sports fans, highlighted by two bronze medal victories in badminton.
Lee Zii Jia, the nation’s top men’s singles shuttler, demonstrated his resilience and skill, overcoming India’s Lakshya Sen in a thrilling third-place playoff. After losing the first game 13-21, Zii Jia fought back with a remarkable 21-16, 21-11 win at the iconic Adidas Arena in Port de la Chapelle.
His performance underscored Malaysia’s growing influence in international badminton.
Men’s doubles duo Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik replicated their Tokyo 2020 bronze success with another standout performance.
The dynamic duo staged an incredible comeback to defeat Denmark’s Kim Astrup and Anders Skaarup Rasmussen, solidifying their status as one of the world’s top pairs.
Pearly (right) and Thinaah made history as the first Malaysian women’s doubles pair to reach the Olympic semi-finals, further elevating Malaysia’s presence on the global stage. — AFP
Meanwhile, Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah made history as the first Malaysian women’s doubles pair to reach the Olympic semi-finals, further elevating Malaysia’s presence on the global stage.
The Olympics also brought heartbreak, particularly for track cyclist Azizulhasni Awang.
After recovering from open-heart surgery, the “Pocket Rocketman” faced disqualification in the keirin event’s first heat due to a technical infraction. Despite the devastating setback, Azizulhasni’s grit and determination remains an enduring inspiration.
Malaysia’s Olympic journey in Paris reflected resilience, talent and progress, leaving a legacy of pride and hope for future competitions.
Nation’s dynamic duo
Top men’s singles shuttler Zii Jia and men’s doubles pair Aaron-Wooi Yik gave Malaysians reason to cheer during the Paris Olympics by bringing home two bronze medals from the games.
Zii Jia had fought back from a game down to beat India’s Lakshya Sen 13-21, 21-16, 21-11 in the third-place playoffs at the Adidas Arena in Port de la Chapelle in August.
For Aaron-Wooi Yik, the duo replicated their bronze medal finish at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics by mounting a stunning comeback and taking down Danish pair Kim Astrup-Anders Skaarup Rasmussen. Another notable achievement was for women’s doubles pair Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah, who became the first Malaysians to make it to the Olympics semis.
Rocketman’s hopes dashed
After bouncing back from open-heart surgery, Tokyo Olympics silver medallist track cyclist Azizulhasni was left heartbroken after being disqualified from the keirin event in Paris. The 36-year-old and Frenchman Rayan Helal were deemed to have moved too quickly before the derny left the track and the jury decided to disqualify the Malaysian in the first round heat.
Stellar Sivasangari
National squash player S. Sivasangari captured the finest moment of her career by clinching the London Classic title, making her the first Malaysian to win a gold level event in recent times.
Her win was extra meaningful as she proved she is still the country’s best player even after recovering from a serious car accident in 2022.
31-year streak smashed
Zaidatul Husniah clocked 11.49s in the women’s 100m race at the Perlis Open to break G. Shanti’s 31-year-old 100m national record of 11.50s set back in Kuala Lumpur in 1993.
Zaidatul, who had represented Malaysia at the 2016 Rio Olympics, had finally achieved what many tried but missed over the last three decades.
Fourth Euro win for Spain
Hosted in Germany, this year’s European Championship title was claimed by Spain, who won it for a record-breaking fourth time after defeating England 2-1 in the final.
The highlight was around 17-year-old Lamine Yamal, who became the youngest player ever to feature in a Euro or World Cup final.
Nadal tearfully waving to the crowd during a tribute after playing his last match as a professional in the Davis Cup quarter-finals at the Martin Carpena Sports Hall in Malaga, southern Spain. — AP
Goodbye, Rafa
The world of tennis said goodbye to a titanic figure that has dominated the sport since he first stepped onto the court as Rafael Nadal bid farewell to a career with 22 Grand Slams, with 14 coming from the French Open.
The 38-year-old “King of Clay” played his final game at the Davis Cup but could not conjure a fairytale ending as he lost his final match to Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp.
Paul (left) throwing a punch at Tyson at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, United States in this file photo. — Reuters
Rusty ‘Iron Mike’
All the hype surrounding the return of Mike Tyson to the boxing ring did not live up to its expectations as social media influencer Jake Paul defeated him in what was a dramatic letdown across the world.
The bout between 27-year-old Jake and 58-year-old former heavyweight champion Tyson went in favour of Paul by unanimous decision to win the international heavyweight battle.
Fans at the sold-out AT&T Stadium in Texas and viewers on Netflix worldwide were left disappointed as Tyson’s age got the better of him and the once-feared boxing icon could not generate any offence towards Paul.
Premier League
Manchester City captured their eighth Premier League title in May 2024, making it their fourth consecutive trophy and the first English football club to accomplish the feat.
City showed a world-class season as they went on a 23-match unbeaten run.
This was crucial to create the gap between them and closest rivals Arsenal.
Norwegian powerhouse Erling Haaland won the Golden Boot for the second consecutive season, scoring 27 goals.
