Go for Gold
PETALING JAYA: Here’s a fun fact. The majestic Eiffel Tower in Paris was the highest structure built by mankind after the pyramids of Giza. Built in 1887, it was the first high-rise structure of the common era.
Malaysia’s hope at the Olympic Games are a lot like the Eiffel Tower. Can we finally hit a height we have never before reached - and bring home the gold from Paris of all places?
The reality is, we cannot hold out much hope. Most of the 26 athletes are likely to return home empty-handed.
But one can’t lose hope in the City of Love, where the 33rd edition of the modern Olympic Games officially begins today with the opening ceremony at the River Seine.
A first gold will be a perfect gift for this year’s Hari Merdeka.
Besides, Paris is hosting its second Olympics at home after 100 years since they last hosted in 1924. Hopefully, Malaysia will find some magical moments, too.
We can look to cyclist Azizulhasni Awang and shuttlers Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, among others, to provide the magic.
Azizul, who has won a silver and a bronze in the last two editions in 2020 Tokyo and 2016 Rio respectively, is out to end his campaign in his fifth Olympics by completing his collection.
The 36-year-old, may be coming back after a heart ailment, but he is capable and has the heart to do it.
Can he overcome a host of younger riders and big guys from Europe?
“That is the plan. If I win a gold, it will be for Malaysia and the people. I too can retire with a big smile,” said the “Pocket Rocketman”.
The other members of the cycling team are Shah Firdaus Sahrom, Nurul Izzah Izzati Asri, and Nur Aisyah Zubir (road), making it the second biggest sport in the contingent.
The biggest is badminton, and naturally there are high expectations on the eight-member team to continue as the most successful sport, having already won six silvers and three bronzes so far.
Lee Chong Wei is the biggest medal winner having won three silvers in three consecutive finals. But the gold remains elusive. Malaysia’s total medal haul is only 0-8-5 since they started taking part in the Olympics in 1956 in Melbourne, with cycling and diving the only other sports that have delivered.
After becoming the country’s first world champions, the Aaron-Wooi look the likeliest to make a breakthrough while professional singles shuttler Lee Zii Jia will be the dark horse. But Viktor Axelsen of Denmark and Shi Yuqi of China will likely have different ideas.
For the others in the contingent, personal bests will be an achievement. Sprinter Mohd Azeem Fahmi, for instance, will be looking at rewriting his national record of 10.09s while many others are just debutants.
But there is hope, not just in Paris but also in Los Angeles in 2028. That is when squash becomes an Olympics sport.
Datuk Nicol David is deputy chef de mission in Paris be she could well have been the country’s first Olympic gold medal winner if the sport had been included earlier.
The former eight-time world champion, however, is now soaking in the atmosphere, and doing her best to inspire the others in the team.
“It’s a dream come true and so unreal to be part of this amazing event. Being here watching our athletes train and compete is really the highlight and I’m so excited for them!,” said Nicol.
“Our athletes have done their work and now they have to focus on building their performance on the day. That’s the main thing to keep in mind for now.”
Will Malaysia’s campaign in the Paris Games end with a golden glitter? A total of 206 nations will battle in 329 events, and one gold for Malaysia will send the country into frenzy and make the winner a multi-millionaire.
