Paris 2024 Olympics
The 2024 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad, will be held in Paris, France, from 26 July to 11 August 2024. This event will mark Paris as the second city, after London, to host the Summer Olympics three times.
The 2024 Olympics will feature approximately 10,500 athletes from 206 nations, competing in 329 events across 32 sports. New additions to the Olympic roster include breakdancing, sport climbing, skateboarding, and surfing. The opening ceremony will be staged along the picturesque Seine River, while the closing ceremony will take place at the Stade de France. Iconic Parisian landmarks, such as the Eiffel Tower, will provide stunning backdrops for several events, enhancing the spectator experience and celebrating the city’s rich heritage.
Worth mentioning is that Malaysia’s participation in the Olympic Games has been marked by memorable moments, groundbreaking achievements, and a display of exceptional talent across various sports. From its early appearances to its recent successes, Malaysia has continuously carved out a significant presence on the world’s largest sporting stage.
Early Participation and Achievements
Malaysia first competed under its own flag at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, having previously participated as Malaya. This debut saw a contingent of 66 athletes competing in 10 sports, the largest Malaysian team to date. Among the athletes was Tan Sri Dr. M Jegathesan, who made history by reaching the semi-finals of the men’s 200m sprint, a feat he repeated at the 1968 Mexico Olympics.
In the 1972 Munich Olympics, Malaysia’s football team made history by qualifying and finishing third in their group. Despite challenging losses to West Germany and Morocco, the team triumphed over the United States, marking a significant achievement for Malaysian football. The 1976 Montreal Olympics saw another milestone with Ishtiaq Mubarak becoming the first Malaysian to reach the semi-finals of the 110m hurdles.
Historic Olympic Moments
Malaysia did not participate in the 1980 Moscow Olympics due to a US-led boycott. However, in the 1988 Seoul Olympics, badminton and taekwondo were introduced as demonstration sports. Malaysia’s M. Vasugi won a bronze medal in taekwondo, although it did not officially count as taekwondo became a full-fledged Olympic sport in the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
The 1992 Barcelona Olympics marked a pivotal moment for Malaysia as badminton became an official Olympic sport. Razif and Jalani Sidek earned Malaysia’s first Olympic medal by winning bronze in men’s doubles badminton. This historic win paved the way for future successes in badminton, establishing it as Malaysia’s stronghold in the Olympics.
In the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, Malaysia secured two medals: a silver in men’s doubles badminton by Cheah Soon Kit and Yap Kim Hock, and a bronze in men’s singles badminton by Rashid Sidek. This Olympics also marked Malaysia’s debut in sailing and canoeing, showcasing the country’s expanding athletic diversity.
Recent Achievements
After a medal drought in the 2000 and 2004 Olympics, Datuk Lee Chong Wei ended Malaysia’s dry spell by winning a silver medal in men’s singles badminton at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. This achievement marked the beginning of Lee’s illustrious Olympic career, during which he would secure two more silver medals in 2012 and 2016.
The 2012 London Olympics was another milestone for Malaysia, with diver Pandelela Rinong clinching a bronze in the women’s 10m platform diving. She became the first Malaysian woman to win an Olympic medal and the first to win in a sport other than badminton, highlighting Malaysia’s growing prowess in diving on the global stage.
Malaysia achieved its best Olympic haul at the 2016 Rio Olympics, bringing home four silver medals and one bronze. Lee Chong Wei won his third silver in men’s singles badminton, while Goh V Shem and Tan Wee Kiong (men’s doubles badminton) and Chan Peng Soon and Goh Liu Ying (mixed doubles badminton) secured silver medals. Divers Pandelela Rinong and Cheong Jun Hoong earned a silver in the women’s synchronized 10m platform diving. Cyclist Azizulhasni Awang made history by winning bronze in keirin, marking Malaysia’s first Olympic medal in cycling.
The 2020 Tokyo Olympics
The 2020 Tokyo Olympics, postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, presented unprecedented challenges. Athletes trained in biosecure bubbles and competed without spectators, adapting to a new norm in Olympic history.
Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik became national heroes by securing a bronze medal in the Men’s Doubles badminton event. Their journey was a testament to resilience and determination. Despite an initial group stage defeat to Indonesia’s Mohammad Ahsan and Hendra Setiawan, Aaron and Soh made a remarkable comeback in the bronze medal match, winning 17-21, 21-17, 21-14. This victory marked Malaysia’s first medal in the Tokyo Olympics and mirrored the achievement of the Sidek brothers in 1992, who also won bronze in Men’s Doubles.
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The diving team also put forth a strong performance, highlighted by Pandelela Rinong and Leong Mun Yee in the Women’s Synchronised 10m Platform event. Although they did not medal, their efforts added to Malaysia’s rich history in the sport.
Malaysia’s Key Representatives at the Olympic Games Paris 2024
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Badminton
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- Lee Zii Jia: A top contender in men’s singles.
- Goh Jin Wei: Two-time world junior champion in women’s singles.
- Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik: The dynamic duo in men’s doubles.
- Pearly Tan and Thinaah Mairaj: Making their debut at the Games, they will proudly stand as Malaysia’s sole representatives in the women’s doubles category.
- Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei: Malaysian world No. 9 mixed doubles.
Weightlifting
- National weightlifter Mohammad Aniq Kasdan is targeting a 305-kilogram lift in the 61kg category to clinch a medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Diving
- 19-year-old Bertrand Rhodict Lises is set to make his Olympic debut in Paris 2024, competing in the Men’s 10m Platform event. Bertrand has also been honoured as Malaysia’s flag-bearer for the Olympic Games Paris 2024, alongside 25-year-old sailor Nur Shazrin Mohamad Latif.
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- Veteran national diver Nur Dhabitah Sabri will bring her experience from Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 to this year’s Olympic Games, representing Malaysia in the Women’s 3m Springboard event.
Swimming
- Two promising Malaysian swimmers Khiew Hoe Yean will compete in the Men’s 400m Freestyle, while 17-year-old Tan Ruoxin will represent the nation in the Women’s 100m Breaststroke.
Sailing
- Nur Shazrin Mohamad Latif achieved a remarkable feat by winning the gold medal in the Sailing Women’s Single Handed Dinghy ILCA 6 at the Xiangshan Sailing Centre in Ningbo in 2023.
- Khairulnizam Mohd Afendy, a veteran national sailor, is poised for his fourth Olympic appearance. His last opportunity to qualify came at the Last Chance Regatta 2024 in Hyeres, France, where he secured third place in the Men’s Single-Handed Dinghy ILCA 7.
Cycling
- Azizulhasni Awang: Known as the “Pocket Rocketman,” Azizulhasni Awang is a top contender in track cycling. With a bronze medal from Rio 2016 and extensive experience, he aims to secure another podium finish in Paris.
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- Nur Aisyah Mohamad Zubir: Malaysia’s pioneering female road cyclist, has been selected to compete in the Olympic Games by the Malaysian National Cycling Federation.
- Nurul Izzah Izzati Mohd Asri: At just 20 years old, emerging track cycling talent Nurul will make her debut at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Archery
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- The Malaysian Women’s Archery Team secured a historic qualification for the Paris Games. The team, featuring Ariana (gold medal at the World Archery Asian Continental Qualifier Tournament), Syaqiera Mashayikh (a competitor from Tokyo 2020), and Nurul Azreena Mohamad Fazil (making her Olympic debut), clinched their spot.
Shooting
- Johnathan Wong Guanjie earned his spot in the XXXIII Olympic Games Paris 2024, based on his impressive performance at the 15th Asian Shooting Championships held in Changwon, Korea, in 2023.
Golf
- Gavin Kyle Green has earned a place in his third consecutive Olympic Games, having achieved a ranking within the top 60 of the official Olympic Golf Rankings (OGR).
- Ashley Lau Jen Wen has secured her first appearance at the Olympic Games by achieving a 50th-place ranking in the Women’s Olympic Golf Rankings.
You can now catch every moment of the Paris Olympic Games 2024 on Astro. Tune in to Astro Arena and Astro Arena 2, channels 801 and 802, as well as other dedicated channels for complete coverage.
