Malaysia’s performance at the recent Asian Games in Japan highlighted both the nation’s sporting strengths and areas requiring further development ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Squash emerged as a standout discipline, delivering four of Malaysia’s nine gold medals, while other sports showed potential but faced challenges.
Ng Eain Yow and S. Sivasangari led Malaysia’s squash contingent by securing the men’s and women’s individual titles, respectively, and also contributed to Malaysia’s success in the team events. Both players have qualified for the Los Angeles Games, marking a significant milestone for Malaysian squash, a sport that has yet to be included in past Olympics despite the successes of earlier icons such as Nicol David, Ong Beng Hee, and Mohd Azlan Iskandar. Azlan, now serving as the team’s chef de mission, was present in Japan to support the new generation of players.
Eain Yow acknowledged the legacy left by these former champions, emphasizing a sense of responsibility to carry Malaysia’s sporting spirit onto the Olympic stage. Squash’s rise presents a shift from badminton’s historical role as Malaysia’s flagship sport at the Olympics, where Datuk Seri Lee Chong Wei remains the nation’s most decorated athlete with three silver medals. However, Malaysian badminton struggled in Japan, returning with only one bronze medal through the women’s doubles team of Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah, underscoring the need for renewed focus ahead of LA28.
Track cycling also yielded noteworthy results, with veteran Azizulhasni Awang, 38, winning the men’s keirin gold by outperforming younger competitors from China, showing the longevity of his career. Additionally, 23-year-old Nurul Izzah Izzati Mohd Asri earned a bronze in the women’s keirin and secured a silver in the team sprint alongside Nurul Aliana Syafika Azizan, Anis Amira Rosidi, and Nur Alyssa Mohd Farid, signaling emerging talent in women’s cycling.
The Malaysian men’s hockey team reached the final but fell 1-5 to India, narrowly missing out on Olympic qualification. Their performance demonstrated potential that could be unlocked with greater support and investment.
Other gold medals came from Adeola Fay Robert and C. Shahmalarani in karate, and the men’s sepak takraw team captured the regu gold, ending a 36-year drought. However, karate and sepak takraw are not among the sports contested at the Los Angeles Olympics.
Malaysia also claimed its first e-sports gold in Gran Turismo 7, with Taj Izrin Aiman Taj Madira’s unexpected victory marking a new chapter in the nation’s sporting achievements.
Despite these successes, Malaysia faced setbacks in several Olympic sports, including shooting, archery, swimming, diving, and athletics. Nonetheless, positive developments emerged, such as 19-year-old sprinter Danish Iftikhar Mohd Roslee becoming the first Malaysian in 44 years to reach the Asian Games men’s 200m final, recording a season best of 20.76 seconds.
China dominated the Games with a medal haul of 169 gold, 89 silver, and 83 bronze, showcasing the considerable gap Malaysia must bridge. While Malaysia’s 9 gold, 7 silver, and 16 bronze medals secured an 11th-place finish—its best since the 2010 Guangzhou Games—experts voice concerns that greater professionalism and grassroots development are essential for sustained progress. As Tan Sri Dr M. Jegathesan has noted, investment must begin at the foundational level to cultivate a broader talent pool capable of competing consistently at the highest levels.