Malaysian Olympians can earn big buck$ with Rio $ucce$$
THE STAR
File photo shows Mohd Azizulhasni Awang celebrating after winning a bronze medal in the men's keirin final at Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome during the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games. – GLENN GUAN/The Star
A RM1mil cash prize and a lifelong monthly pension of RM5,000 for an Olympic gold.
That’s the lure for the 32 Malaysian athletes at Rio Games.
Malaysia will be competing in nine sports – aquatics (swimming, diving and open water swimming), athletics, archery, badminton, golf, shooting, sailing, cycling and weightlifting.
But based on their results at world level, only four sports stand a realistic chance of producing a gold medallist.
Archery has a shot at stealing the early thunder as the recurve team trio of Khairul Anuar Mohammad, Haziq Kamaruddin and Akmal Nor Hasrin go into action in the ranking rounds on Friday.
Archers have a shot of winning an early medal. From left are sailor Nur Syazrin Latif, shooter Johnathan Wong, archers Khairul Anuar Mohamad, Haziq Kamaruddin and Akmal NorHasrin at KLIA, Sepang before leaving to Rio. - RAYMOND OOI/ The Star.
It’s the Games’ opening day and the trio could give the contingent a big boost if they qualify from the rankings rounds for Saturday’s elimination stage as one of the top four sides.
But before one gets excited, it must be remembered that Malaysia have yet to win a match in the elimination rounds.
In 2008 in Beijing, the trio of Cheng Chu Sian, Wan Khalmizam Wan Abdul Aziz and Mohd Marbawi Sulaiman finished third in the ranking rounds to reach the last eight. But their run ended when they lost 213-218 to Italy in the quarter-finals.
In London four years ago, the trio of Chu Sian, Khairul and Haziq finished 10th in the ranking rounds before going down 211-216 to Mexico in the first stage of the elimination rounds.
Coach Lee Jae-hyung is, however, quietly confident his charges can beat the odds this time.
“The experience they gained from the final qualifying tournament in Antalya (Turkey) in June was a very important one. Twice our archers overcame poor starts to beat Germany in the third placing playoff (to qualify for the Olympics).
“If they stay calm and support each other, there is no reason for us not to be fighting strongly for a medal. Archery is so unpredictable and no-one can say they are the favourites for a medal,” said Jae-hyung.
Next up for a short at glory is Pandelela Rinong-Cheong Jun Hoong in the women’s 10m platform synchro on Aug 9. Pandelela and Jun Hoong have an excellent record in the event, having won a silver at the World Cup in Rio in February this year.
File photo of divers Cheong Jun Hoong and Pandelela Rinong (right) when they clinched silver in the women's 10m platform synchro at the Diving World Cup in Rio de Janeiro in February.
Pandelela is the only Malaysian diver with an Olympic medal, having finished third in the 10m platform individual at the London Olympics. She also won a bronze in the event in the World Championships in Russia last year. But of late, she has been struggling for form. She certainly needs to be at her best again to win a medal in her pet event.
In cycling, Azizulhasni Awang will not be short of motivation to claim a historic podium finish in the men’s keirin on Aug 16.
Azizul spent five weeks away from his family to grind it out in training in Portugal before flying out to Rio.
File photo of Mohd Azizulhasni Awang during the prize presentation during the 2nd South East Asian GP Track at Cheras velodrome in 2015. AZMAN GHANI /The Star.
After taking bronze at the World Track Cycling Championships in London in March, Azizul spent the following weeks crunching weights to build up his muscle mass in the lower part of his body in the hope that he can give his taller and bigger sized rivals a run for their money.
At the London Olympics, Azizul reached the final but was outsprinted at the final bend. This time, he’s going for broke in what is his best chance to win a medal.
Finally, Malaysians back home will be eagerly waiting for Aug 20 – the date of the badminton men’s singles final.
File photo shows Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia celebrate his victory against Denmark's Jan O Jorgensen of Denmark during the men's singles final at the Indonesian Open badminton tournament in Jakarta. – Afp.
If Lee Chong Wei lives up to his billing as the top seed, the gold is in the offing.
Chong Wei came close on two occasions, only to lose to Lin Dan of China in Beijing and London.
But the 33-year-old Chong Wei is now in the best form of his life, having also beaten Lin Dan and world champion Chen Long convincingly in their own backyard at the Asian Badminton Championships in Wuhan in April.
CHASE FOR GLORY IN RIO
THE BOUNTY
Under the country’s incentive scheme, an athlete who wins an Olympic gold will receive RM1mil, RM300,000 for a silver and RM100,000 for a bronze. The medallists will also be given a lifelong pension of RM5,000 (gold), RM3,000 (silver) and RM2,000 (bronze). No Malaysian has ever won a gold in the history of the Games.
WHO CAN LAY A CLAIM?
File photo shows Mohd Azizulhasni Awang celebrating after winning a bronze medal in the men's keirin final at Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome during the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games. – GLENN GUAN/The Star
A RM1mil cash prize and a lifelong monthly pension of RM5,000 for an Olympic gold.
That’s the lure for the 32 Malaysian athletes at Rio Games.
Malaysia will be competing in nine sports – aquatics (swimming, diving and open water swimming), athletics, archery, badminton, golf, shooting, sailing, cycling and weightlifting.
But based on their results at world level, only four sports stand a realistic chance of producing a gold medallist.
Archery has a shot at stealing the early thunder as the recurve team trio of Khairul Anuar Mohammad, Haziq Kamaruddin and Akmal Nor Hasrin go into action in the ranking rounds on Friday.
Archers have a shot of winning an early medal. From left are sailor Nur Syazrin Latif, shooter Johnathan Wong, archers Khairul Anuar Mohamad, Haziq Kamaruddin and Akmal NorHasrin at KLIA, Sepang before leaving to Rio. - RAYMOND OOI/ The Star.
It’s the Games’ opening day and the trio could give the contingent a big boost if they qualify from the rankings rounds for Saturday’s elimination stage as one of the top four sides.
But before one gets excited, it must be remembered that Malaysia have yet to win a match in the elimination rounds.
In 2008 in Beijing, the trio of Cheng Chu Sian, Wan Khalmizam Wan Abdul Aziz and Mohd Marbawi Sulaiman finished third in the ranking rounds to reach the last eight. But their run ended when they lost 213-218 to Italy in the quarter-finals.
In London four years ago, the trio of Chu Sian, Khairul and Haziq finished 10th in the ranking rounds before going down 211-216 to Mexico in the first stage of the elimination rounds.
Coach Lee Jae-hyung is, however, quietly confident his charges can beat the odds this time.
“The experience they gained from the final qualifying tournament in Antalya (Turkey) in June was a very important one. Twice our archers overcame poor starts to beat Germany in the third placing playoff (to qualify for the Olympics).
“If they stay calm and support each other, there is no reason for us not to be fighting strongly for a medal. Archery is so unpredictable and no-one can say they are the favourites for a medal,” said Jae-hyung.
Next up for a short at glory is Pandelela Rinong-Cheong Jun Hoong in the women’s 10m platform synchro on Aug 9. Pandelela and Jun Hoong have an excellent record in the event, having won a silver at the World Cup in Rio in February this year.
File photo of divers Cheong Jun Hoong and Pandelela Rinong (right) when they clinched silver in the women's 10m platform synchro at the Diving World Cup in Rio de Janeiro in February.
Pandelela is the only Malaysian diver with an Olympic medal, having finished third in the 10m platform individual at the London Olympics. She also won a bronze in the event in the World Championships in Russia last year. But of late, she has been struggling for form. She certainly needs to be at her best again to win a medal in her pet event.
In cycling, Azizulhasni Awang will not be short of motivation to claim a historic podium finish in the men’s keirin on Aug 16.
Azizul spent five weeks away from his family to grind it out in training in Portugal before flying out to Rio.
File photo of Mohd Azizulhasni Awang during the prize presentation during the 2nd South East Asian GP Track at Cheras velodrome in 2015. AZMAN GHANI /The Star.
After taking bronze at the World Track Cycling Championships in London in March, Azizul spent the following weeks crunching weights to build up his muscle mass in the lower part of his body in the hope that he can give his taller and bigger sized rivals a run for their money.
At the London Olympics, Azizul reached the final but was outsprinted at the final bend. This time, he’s going for broke in what is his best chance to win a medal.
Finally, Malaysians back home will be eagerly waiting for Aug 20 – the date of the badminton men’s singles final.
File photo shows Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia celebrate his victory against Denmark's Jan O Jorgensen of Denmark during the men's singles final at the Indonesian Open badminton tournament in Jakarta. – Afp.
If Lee Chong Wei lives up to his billing as the top seed, the gold is in the offing.
Chong Wei came close on two occasions, only to lose to Lin Dan of China in Beijing and London.
But the 33-year-old Chong Wei is now in the best form of his life, having also beaten Lin Dan and world champion Chen Long convincingly in their own backyard at the Asian Badminton Championships in Wuhan in April.
CHASE FOR GLORY IN RIO
THE BOUNTY
Under the country’s incentive scheme, an athlete who wins an Olympic gold will receive RM1mil, RM300,000 for a silver and RM100,000 for a bronze. The medallists will also be given a lifelong pension of RM5,000 (gold), RM3,000 (silver) and RM2,000 (bronze). No Malaysian has ever won a gold in the history of the Games.
WHO CAN LAY A CLAIM?
Lee Chong Wei
Sport: Badminton
World ranking: 1
Event: Men’s singles
Date with destiny: Aug 20.
HE will be Malaysia’s flagbearer at the opening ceremony of the Rio Olympics on Friday.
“It is the first time I’m taking part in the opening ceremony. I hope I have the luck to bring back the gold after coming close in London (2012),” said Chong Wei.
Cheong Jun Hoong-Pandelela Rinong
Sport: Diving
World ranking: 3
Event: Women’s 10m platform synchro
Date with destiny: Aug 9
The duo have what it takes to deliver the country’s first Olympic medal in synchro diving.
“We have the best chance to win a medal in the synchro as long as we do clean dives in all five attempts. We’ll be fighting with China, Britain, North Korea, Canada for the medals,” said Pandelela.
Azizulhasni Awang
Sport: Track cycling
World ranking: 4
Event: Men’s keirin
Date with destiny: Aug 16
Azizulhasni has four World Championships medals – two silvers and two bronzes – in his collection but the Olympic medal is what he covets most.
At 28 and a father of two, Azizul believes it’s his best chance to make the podium in his third Olympic appearance.
“It’s not about the incentives. It’s about realising a career goal that drives me in search of the gold,” said Azizul.
Azizulhasni Awang
Sport: Track cycling
World ranking: 4
Event: Men’s keirin
Date with destiny: Aug 16
Azizulhasni has four World Championships medals – two silvers and two bronzes – in his collection but the Olympic medal is what he covets most.
At 28 and a father of two, Azizul believes it’s his best chance to make the podium in his third Olympic appearance.
“It’s not about the incentives. It’s about realising a career goal that drives me in search of the gold,” said Azizul.
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