US-based athletes likely to represent M’sia at Beijing Olympics

KUALA LUMPUR − Malaysia will most likely be represented at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games from February 4 to 20 by two athletes.

Exactly 50 days before the opening ceremony of the Games, Malaysia’s chef de mission Moira Tan said America-based alpine skiers Jeffrey Webb and Aruwin Salehhuddin are set to make the cut.

Jeffrey, 23, who is in line for his second consecutive Games, is currently training in the United States while Aruwin, 17, who has shifted her training stint to Croatia, is set to make her Olympic debut against the world’s best.

“The final confirmation will be received from the organisers and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) by next month but these two athletes are almost certain to feature in Beijing though the disciplines are yet to be confirmed.

“We are also monitoring our chances in the skeleton event but, for now, the ranking is still very far (to qualify),” she said when contacted today. 

Skeleton is an event where competitors ride head-first prone position − lying face down on a flat sled − with speeds exceeding 130km/h.

Malaysia − a country without snowfall − made history with its Winter Olympics debut three years ago at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games in South Korea through Julian Yee and Jeffrey.

Figure skater Julian, 24, finished 25th in the men’s singles while Jeffrey ended 68th in the men’s giant slalom and didn’t finish in the men’s slalom.

However, Moira said Julian would probably miss the upcoming Winter Games after the Covid-19 pandemic halted the Canada-based skater’s preparations and caused him to miss a lot of qualifying tournaments. – Bernama, December 16, 2021