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THE 2020 Summer Olympics, that was supposed to have taken place last year in Tokyo, faced a unexpected postponement when the Covid-19 pandemic hit the world.
Since then it has been a 'will it' or 'will it not' actually take place as the pandemic raged the world.
Finally it has all been done and dusted as the Games will take place from July 23-Aug 8.
As Malaysia patiently await their first gold medal winner, after several false starts over the years, 30 athletes from 10 sports will carry the nation's hopes to end that barren spell at the Tokyo Olympics.
Following are the athletes who will be representing the nation in that attempt.
ATHLETICS
Lee Hup Wei, 34
Training under Alexander Gasparyan, Lee Hup Wei will be the sole representative for the men’s high jump event. Despite coming short of the Olympic qualifying mark of 2.33m, he qualified for being one of the top-32 in the world, with the international ranking of No 19.
With his career-best jump of 2.29m when he finish eighth in the final of the 2019 World Championships in Qatar, this will be his third appearance at the Olympics. Previously he finished 32nd at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and 30th at the 2012 London Olympics.
Unfortunately, he will not be traveling with his coach because he failed to achieve the target, set by the Malaysian Athletics Federation (MAF) president Datuk S.M. Muthu, of 2.33m in Kazakhstan.
Azreen Nabila Alias, 21
The aspiring entrepreneur, whose parents convinced her to attend the Bukit Nanas Sports School when she was 13, became the MAF's ‘wildcard’ for the Tokyo Olympics.
Training under national coach, M. Balamurugan, she will be taking part in the 100m, with her latest exploit being at the 2019 Perak All-Comers in Ipoh, where she finished third and at the 2019 Philippines Sea Games, she secured a bronze medal in the 4x100m relay
Having had grabbed the attention of the nation when she broke the 10-year old 100m record by 0.01s by clocking 11.81s at the 2018 Sukan Malaysia (SUKMA) 2018 in Perak. This is the young sprinter's Olympic debut.
SWIMMING
Welson Sim Wee Sheng, 24
The Sarawakian, who started swimming for health reasons when he was 11 and currently training under Chris Martin, became the first Malaysian swimmer to participate at the Olympics - in Rio 2016. He finished 26th in the 200m freestyle and 34th in the 400m freestyle.
Going into the Tokyo Olympics with his personal best of 1:45.67 in the 200m freestyle and 3:51.57 for the 400m freestyle, Welson will be competing in the same events.
Phee Jinq En, 24
Competing in the 100m and 200m breaststroke, this will be Jinq En’s second appearance at the Olympics.
Ending her Olympic journey early at the 2016 Rio Games Qualifier for the 100m breaststroke, the United States-based swimmer has been following her own tailored programme by her coach from Purdue University, John Klinge, under the supervision of national coach Chris Martin.
The Purdue University graduate, who holds the national record in the 100m breaststroke with 1:08.50s from the 2019 Manila SEA Games is also striving to break a 13-year national record of 2:27.80s in the 200m breaststroke.
SHOOTING
Nur Suryani Mohd Taibi, 39
Nur Suryani Taibi, who holds the national record for the individual 50-metre rifle three-position with a score of 1170, qualified for the Tokyo Olympics after the National Shooting Association of Malaysia (NSAM) chose her for the wild card spot early last month and will be competing in the women’s rifle 50m 3 Position category.
Training under the national coach Mohd Yusri Jusoh, this will be her second shot at the Olympics after the 2012 London Olympics where she finished 34th with a score of 392.
Although unable to advance past the qualifying round, Suryani gained international fame when she competed despite being eight months pregnant.
GOLF
Gavin Kyle Green, 28
Earning his place in the Olympics after being ranked 56th on Official World Golf Ranking, Gavin will be the nation’s men’s individual representative.
The first Malaysian to top the Asian Tour Order of Merit after a remarkable 2017 campaign and earning promotion to the European Tour, this will be his second Olympics, with the first being at Rio 2016.
The Saudi International held from Jan 30-Feb 2, 2020, is his best performance thus far when he finished third.
When ranked 47th while taking part at his previous Games, Gavin has been training with his coach, Chris O'Connell.
Kelly Tan, 28
Competing in the individual category, Kelly will be making her second appearance in the Olympics after the 2016 Rio edition where she was placed 51st.
Starting her career at 12 and recruited by the Malaysian Ladies Golf Association at 14, Kelly is currently 42nd in the final Olympic ranking.
Being the only Malaysian professional golfer to win a championship on US soil and the only Malaysian woman to win the Malaysian Ladies Amateur Open 3 times, Kelly has been under the guidance of Gary Gilchrist.
ARCHERY
Khairul Anuar Mohamad, 30
Starting out in the national team since 2011, Khairul will be competing in the Olympics for the third time under coaches Lee Jae Hyung and Norizam Ishak.
In London 2012 he finished 6th and in Rio 2016, 17th.
This year, he will be competing in the men's individual recurve & mixed with compatriot Syaqiera Mashayikh.
As the first Malaysian to ever win a medal at an individual World Cup event back in the 2011 FITA Archery World Cup, Khairul’s best ranking was in 2013 where he had his highest world ranking of third.
Syaqiera Mashayikh, 21
Competing in the individual recurve and with Khairul Anuar Mohamad in the mixed team at the Tokyo Olympics, this will be Syaqiera’s debut at the Olympics.
She might not have won any medals in the Malaysia Games, but has proven herself for the Olympics spot after registering 619 points in both the Olympic Games qualifiers and the Archery World Cup in Paris.
The resident of Felda settlement in Segamat will be the third Malaysian female to qualify for an Olympic Games after Mon Redee Sut Txi at 2004 Athens and Nurul Syafiqah Hashim at the 2012 edition.
The Universiti Putra Malaysia mass communication student is currently trains under coach Muhammad Marbawi Sulaiman.
GYMNASTICS
Farah Ann Abdul Hadi, 27
The 2019 Philippines SEA Games triple-gold medalist will be making the trip to Tokyo for her debut at the Olympics after narrowly missing the 2016 Rio Games.
Farah is the only gymnast from Malaysia to secure berth for Tokyo 2020 and will be the third Malaysian to qualify for the Olympics, after Au Lin Yen for the 2000 Sydney Olympics and Ng Shu Wai for the Athens 2004.
She will be competing in the all-around under the under the watchful eyes of coaches Nataliya Sinkova and Ng Shu Wai.
Jeremiah Loo Phay Xing, 24
As Malaysia’s second male gymnast to make it to the Olympics, after Ng Shu Wai who qualified for the 2004 Athens Olympics, Jeremiah will be competing in the all-around category in his Olympic debut.
Coached by Tan Jia En, Jeremiah finished 14th in all-around event at the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia and placed sixth in pommel horse event at the 2019 Philippines Sea Games.
TRACK CYCLING
Azizulhasni Awang, 33
Under coach John Beasley, Azizul will be competing in both the keirin and sprint in the upcoming Tokyo Olympics.
Having won 1,600 points in the individual sprint and 1,740 in keirin, this is not Azizul’s first appearance at the Olympics.
Also known as 'Pocket Rocketman', he has been on an uphill climb since his first Olympics in 2008 where he was placed 7th in the team sprint, then placed 6th in the keirin category in the 2012 edition and winning a bronze in keirin in Rio.
Shah Firdaus Sahrom, 26
Another Olympic first-timer, Shah will be competing in the keirin and sprint events.
According to his coach, John Beasley, while Shah may lack in experience as compared to compatriot Azizul, he is one to look out for.
Shah has competed in the sprint event at the 2018 UCI Track Cycling World Championships and even won the 2021 Australian Track National Championship in the keirin, defeating Azizulhasni en-route.
SAILING
Khairulnizam Mohd Afendy, 28
The two-time Asian Games silver medallist (2014 and 2018), under the mentorship of his father Mohd Afendy Abdullah, will be sailing into his third Olympics.
Competing in the laser event, Khairulnizam was placed 47th in the 2012 London Olympics and 35th in Rio.
Bracing unfamiliar seas and the lack of extensive trainings and competitions through the pandemic, he and his fellow sailors will be in uncharted waters wondering if they had enough training.
Nur Shazrin Mohd Latif, 23
Securing two gold medals at the 2015 Southeast Asia Games in Singapore and a bronze medal at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, this will be Nur Shazrin’s second appearance in the Olympics.
The Johorian was the third Malaysian sailor and first Malaysian woman to officially qualify for the 2016 Olympics.
Coming in 33rd in Rio, Nur Shazrin is now being coached by Mohd Hafizi Rosle in preparation for the women’s laser radial event.
Nuraisyah Jamil (23)/Juni Karimah Noor Jamali (19)
The international 470 duo successfully secured their Tokyo ticket after finishing fifth in the Women’s international 470 at the Asian Championships in Shenzhen, China.
Although they were short by a point in the 2016 Rio Olympics, which prevented them from moving past the qualifying round, among their successes are finishing 32nd in the 470 World Cup Series 2019 and 34th in the 470 World Championship 2019.
The duo is currently being coached by Mohd Shahir Abdul Rahim.
DIVING
Nur Dhabitah Sabri, 22
Training under coaches Christian Brooker, Li Rui and Li Ten; Nur Dhabitah will be participating in the individual 3m springboard.
Although she has competed at the 2016 Rio Olympics, this will be her first time competing in the individual 3m springboard as she previously finished fifth in the 3m synchronized springboard and ninth in the 10m platform.
In the individual 3m springboard event, she has won bronze in the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games and gold in the 2017 Kuala Lumpur Sea Games.
Wendy Ng Yan Yee, 28
Starting as a rhythmic gymnast, the 28 year-old will be competing in her third Olympics - in the individual 3m springboard event.
Scouted by former coach, Yang Zhuliang, Wendy recently won gold in the 3m springboard at the 2019 Philippines Sea Games.
Previously she was placed 24th in London 2012 and tenth Rio.
Cheong Jun Hoong, 31
Being the first Malaysian woman to win the world title in the 10m individual platform event at the 2017 World Aquatics Championships in Budapest, Jun Hoong will be competing in the individual 10m platform in Tokyo.
Previously, Jun Hoong finished eighth in the 3m synchronized springboard with Pandelela Rinong and 20th in 3m springboard in London 2012.
At the 2016 Rio Olympics, the pair won silver in the 10m synchronized and Jun Hoong finished 21st in the 3m springboard event and fifth in the 3m synchronized springboard with Nur Dhabitah Sabri.
Leong Mun Yee (37)
While Mun Yee is no stranger to the Olympic scene, she and partner Pandelela Rinong created waves when they won silver at the 2019 World Aquatics Championships in Gwangju in the synchronised 10m platform.
With their last partnership back in the 2009 World Meet in Rome, where they bagged bronze, the pair is back at it in the synchronised 10m platform.
As the first Malaysian diver, Mun Yee’s last Olympic outing was in 2012 London Games where she finished seventh in the synchronised 10m platform.
She also finished 34th and 39th in the platform and springboard events in Sydney 2000, 21st and 26th in the same events in Athens 2004 and 21st in Beinjing 2008 in the springboard event.
Pandelela Rinong, 28
Two-time Olympic medalist and winner of five medals at the World Championships, Pandelela will be competing in two events, the individual 10m platform and synchronised 10m platform with Leong Mun Yee.
As the first Malaysian female to win an Olympic medal, and first in a sport besides badminton, when she won a bronze in the 10m platform at the 2012 London Olympics, this will be her fourth appearance.
In 2016, she won silver in the 10m synchronized platform with Cheong Jun Hoong.
BADMINTON
Chan Peng Soon (33)/Goh Liu Ying (32)
For the mixed doubles pair, under the guidance of coach Chin Eei Hui, this will be their third Olympics together.
From 2012 where they finished 13th, to 2016 Rio Olympics where they won silver, the pair is currently seventh in the world ranking and fifth in the world tour.
This could well be their final appearance and they should give it their all to go one better from 2016.
Chow Mei Kuan (27)/Lee Meng Yean (27)
This is the first Olympics outing for the women’s doubles pair coached by Chan Chong Ming.
Currently 11th in the world ranking, they left the 2019 Southeast Asia Games in the Philippines with a bronze medal .
If the pair is able to qualify for the quarter-finals, they will match the effort of Vivian Hoo-Woon Khe Wei's feat in 2016.
Aaron Chia (24)/Soh Wooi Yik (23)
Also first timers at the Olympics, this pair, the All England finalists and the 2019 Philippines Southeast Asia Games gold medalists, are currently ninth in the world ranking and 29th in the world tour.
In an interview with the Olympics.com, the pair expressed their determination to be the first to clinch that elusive gold medal.
Soniia Cheah Su Ya, 28
Ranked 35th in the world, the Tokyo Olympics will also be Soniia’s debut.
She won her first international title at the 2016 Belgian International tournament after years of competing at junior level and then the silver at the 2017 Southeast Asia Games in Kuala Lumpur.
Soniia is currently coached by Loh Wei Sheng.
Lee Zii Jia, 23
The rising star first grabbed the attention of the nation when he won gold in the 2019 Southeast Asia Games in the Philippines.
Competing in his first Olympics this year's All England champion is currently ranked eighth in the world and under the guidance of Datuk Tey Seu Bock. - The Vibes. July 16, 2021
