Report card on Malaysian athletes
CYCLING
2014 achievement: One
2018 target: One medal, 2018 achievement: No medals
THE viral infection suffered by Azizulhasni Awang affected Malaysia’s chances of winning a medal.
The 2014 bronze medallist could only finish sixth in the keirin and had to withdraw from the sprint competition.
Australia, New Zealand and Scotland’s riders were clearly better prepared to challenge for the podium spots.
WEIGHTLIFTING
2014 achievement: One gold, one silver, 2018 target: One gold, one silver or bronze, 2018 achievement: Two gold and one bronze
MALAYSIA’S weightlifters have never failed on the Commonwealth stage and showed improvement this time.
Azroy Hazal Wafie Izhar Ahmad delivered the nation’s first gold at the Games after breaking Amirul Hamizan Ibrahim’s national record en route to victory in the men’s under-56kg class.
Muhamad Aznil Bidin followed up with a second gold for Malaysia after winning the under-62kg division while Fazrul Azrie Mohdad clinched bronze in the under-85kg class.
The squad broke six national records Down Under. Their performances should give them grounds to appeal for re-inclusion in the Sports Ministry’s Core Sports progamme.
SQUASH
2014 achievement: One gold, 2018 target: One medal, 2018 achievement: One bronze
2010 and 2014 gold medallist Nicol David failed to defend her singles crown and also missed out on bronze after going down to Wales’ Tesni Evans in the playoff.
Nafiizwan Adnan delivered Malaysia’s only medal, a bronze, via the men’s singles.
With Nicol now past her best, the younger generation of player must step up at the next edition of the games.
TABLE TENNIS
2014 achievement: No medals, 2018 target: Quarterfinals, 2018 achievement: One bronze
WITH Malaysia sending a young squad to the games, not much was expected from the national paddlers.
Women’s doubles Ho Ying and Karen Lyne, however, had other ideas and fought their way to a commendable bronze.
LAWN BOWLS
2014 achievement: Two silver, 2018 target: One gold, 2018 achievement: One gold
THE national squad arrived in Australia two months earlier to ensure their preparations for the games go smoothly.
A total of six Malaysian teams saw their campaign come to an end at the semi-final stage, which is worrying, especially with them being part of the Podium Programme.
Siti Zalina Ahmad and Emma Firyana Saroji, however, did well to clinch the women’s pairs gold, saving the sport the blushes.
ATHLETICS
2014 achievement: No medals, 2018 target: One medal, 2018 achievement: One bronze
THE squad should be grateful to para athlete Mohd Afiq Ali Hanafiah for ending the nation’s 16-year medal drought at the Commonwealth Games.
Podium Programme athletes Nauraj Singh Randhawa, Mohd Irfan Shamshuddin and Muhammad Hakimi Ismail were disappointing as they performed below what they are capable of.
The women’s 4x100m quartet, however, can hold their heads high after becoming the first to reach the final since the 1998 games and 1966 prior to that.
POWERLIFTING
2014 achievement: One 2018 target: One gold, 2018 achievement: One silver JONG Yee Khie and Bonnie Bunyau Gustin both did the nation proud in Australia.
Yee Khie took silver while World Junior Champion Bonnie showed great promise despite missing out on a bronze.
GYMNASTIC
2014 achievement: One silver, two bronze, 2018 target: One gold, 2018 achievement: One gold, three silver and three bronze
THE national rhythmic gymnastic squad put on their best show so far at the Games.
The artistic squad, however, still have some way to go before being capable of challenging the dominant nations in the sport.
BADMINTON
2014 achievement: Three 2018 target: Three gold, 2018 achievement: Two gold, one silver and two bronze
IF not for Lee Chong Wei and Vivian Hoo-Chow Mei Kuan’s victories on the final day of the competition, the team would have gone home quite embarrassed.
The failure to defend the mixed doubles gold and Goh V ShemTan Wee Kiong’s semi-final exit should be a clear signal to the BA of Malaysia to start strategising for the next games, especially with Chong Wei now in the twilight of his career.
BASKETBALL
2014 achievement: No medals, 2018 target: Semi-finals, 2018 achievement: Group stage
DESPITE winning the Sea Games gold last year, the women’s squad were outclassed by their opponents at the Commonwealth Games.
DIVING
2014 achievement: One gold, two silver and one bronze, 2018 target: One gold, 2018 achievement: One gold and two bronze
Pandelela Rinong-Cheong Jun Hoong’s gold and two bronzes from Nur Dhabitah Sabri-Leong Mun Yee early in the competition gave hope of a strong showing from the team.
It, however, did not materialise and no more medals were won for the remainder of the competition. Former coach Yang Zhuliang’s departure at the end of last year could have been a factor.
SHOOTING
2014 achievement: One 2018 target: One Gold, 2018 achievement: One bronze MALAYSIA cannot continue to depend on old faces to deliver the goods at the Commonwealth Games.
Alia Sazana Azahari, who
SWIMMING
2014 achievement: No medals, 2018 target: None, 2018 achievement: No medals
NOT much was expected of the national swimmers as they were up against some of the best in the world. Welson Sim, however, did make the final in his event while Tern Jian Han showed good potential.
HOCKEY 2014 achievement: 2018
target:
(sixth), 2018 achievement: (fifth), women (eighth)
MISSING several key players, men’s coach Stephen Van Huizen was forced to test a number of new faces and they did not disappoint as they finished fifth.
The women’s team, however, did not fare as well and were forced to settle for eighth.
RUGBY
2014 achievement: 2018 target: Top 12, 2018 achievement: Failed to progress from group stage
THE national squad had intended to use the games as part of their preparation for the Indonesia Asian Games later this year. As expected, they were routed by Scotland, South Africa and Papua New Guinea, and only managed a solitary try through Muhammad Firdaus Tarmizi.
TRIATHLON
2014 achievement: Did not 2018 target: None, 2018 achievement: No medals BOTH the Malaysian competitors struggled to make an impact in the competition.