KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia’s return from the Paris Olympics with just two bronze medals has sparked yet another round of disappointment, as the nation’s dream of winning that elusive gold remains out of reach.
This ongoing obsession with a single gold medal raises important questions: Are we too focused on one glittering medal? What do we really want as a nation?
Let’s be clear – the athletes aren’t to blame. The 26 Malaysians who qualified for the Olympics are the best we have, representing the pinnacle of Malaysian sport. They’ve worked incredibly hard, made countless sacrifices, and competed against the world’s best.
The fact that we didn’t achieve gold is a sign of deeper issues that need addressing… or not.
So, what’s our goal? Is it just to win one gold medal? And if we do, what comes next? Or should we aim to become a nation that has an endless supply of local talent, that regularly competes for top honours at every major sporting event? These are two very different paths, and our future success depends on which one we choose.
To achieve long-term success, we need to look beyond just winning a gold medal and focus on developing sports at every level in Malaysia. This means taking a hard look at our grassroots programmes.
While initiatives like the Road to Gold (RTG) programme are praised, the truth is that our approach is still too focused on elite athletes.
Do we have a solid system in place to nurture young talent across the country, especially in regular public schools?
Take the Badminton Association of Malaysia as an example. They allocate about RM300,000 annually to each of their 15 state affiliates for coaching, training, facilities and administration. They also organise 12 junior badminton tournaments each year, plus one international junior event. These are good efforts, but they’re just one piece of a much bigger picture.
What about our schools? How much priority is given to sports in our education system? Apart from the once-a-year district, state and national level tournaments (MSSD, MSSN and MSSM), are the Youth and Sports Ministry, Education Ministry and Higher Education Ministry all working together effectively?
I’ve always believed that we cannot expect to achieve professional-level results if we don’t train and condition our grassroots talent like professionals. Correct me if I’m wrong, but most public school students do not go back to school daily to train like top athletes, unless when nearing a tournament like the ones mentioned above.
The reality is that unless students are selected for one of the few sports schools in the country, they’re mostly coached by school teachers who may not have specialised training. This is especially worrying for sports like diving, where even though Sarawak has strong junior programmes, very few states across Malaysia even have a diving team, let alone decent facilities to train a team.
Parents also play a key role. How many parents today encourage their children to take up sports? It’s understandable if they hesitate, given the perception that sports does not provide a viable career path. But can we really blame them when our education system still pushes the idea that the science stream is the only good option?
I know this first hand because my school teachers came to my house to convince my parents to push me into science, even though I wasn’t interested. Years later, I’m not even working in an industry related to science.
Many parents, particularly those with a bit more spending power, would rather invest in tuition and other academic related programmes, and then perhaps the standard piano, swimming and taekwondo classes, just to occupy their extra time.
So, if it’s difficult to go against the grain in academics, imagine how much harder it must be for sports.
There’s talk of setting up dedicated sports universities, but why can’t our existing universities offer special scholarships for students who excel in sports? It’s not an easy task, but it’s possible if we truly want it.
So, are we still fixated on winning just one Olympic gold medal, or are we aiming to become a nation that regularly wins gold in various sports? It’s time to decide whether we want to chase a fleeting moment of glory or build a strong foundation for our athletes that will last for generations. Only then can Malaysia become a true sporting nation.
Despite everything, I believe all 26 of our athletes performed admirably in Paris. Some debutants struggled under pressure, but most showed true determination and sportsmanship. That never-say-die attitude is something money can’t buy. – August 15, 2024
Fabian Peter is a sportswriter for Scoop