Looking For Malaysia’s Next Sports Superstar
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Published on Monday, 24 February 2014 09:18
National sports icons Datuk Nicol David and Datuk Lee Chong Wei.OUR country is famous worldwide for many good reasons. People remember us because of the bold leadership of ex-PM Tun Mahathir, the fabulously modern Sepang F1 Circuit, as well as the majestically unique Petronas Twin Towers building.
But people of the world also know us because of the heroic success of our sports ambassadors.
Malaysian sportsmen and sportswomen have been the country’s source of pride since the 1970s. They have made Malaysia visible on the world map as a country with many world-class sporting talents.
While the country are constantly struggling to compete with the world in terms of economic strength, World’s No.1 badminton player Datuk Lee Chong Wei and World’s No.1 squash player Datuk Nicol David are already at the epitome of their respective sports.
They are our sports heroes and through their hard work, they have helped made the country stands out positively in the eyes of the world.
But, has it ever occur to you, what will happen when these two sports legend retire? Do we have talents who are just as good, if not better, to replace them as National icons?
Where are the good ones?
In Singapore, there is a program called Foreign Sports Talent Scheme, which was created in 1993 and it is a program undertaken by various Singapore’s sports organisations where they scout for the next big Singapore’s sports superstars elsewhere. Upon selection, these non-Singaporeans sports talents will migrate to Singapore with hefty salary and are required to represent the nation in sports events.
Over the years, Singaporeans have been debating the ethicality of the program with most Singaporean finding the program ‘inappropriate’ as it highlights Singapore’s shortage of sports talents.
But Singapore’s population of about 3.31 million people is merely a speck of Malaysia’s, which is approximately 30 million. Surely enough we have talents of our own, don’t we?
Talent Re-discovered
Here, Malaysian Digest presents to you four of Malaysia’s sports talents who possess great potential to develop as the next National icons with the stature of Chong Wei and Nicol.
Badminton
On the country’s doubles department, all eyes are now on men’s pair Lim Khim Wah and Goh V Shem. The duo had just won the recent Maybank Malaysian Open, where they superbly defeated China’s Chai Biao and Hong Wei. The win marks Malaysia’s first Super Series win after Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong victory in 2010.
Their performance in the Malaysian Open has created a buzz and Malaysians are hopeful that these two will soon replace the Kien Keat- Boon Heong pair and be fit enough to represent Malaysia internationally.
Not forgetting World’s No. 16 single shuttler Daren Liew whose best achievement is the French Super Series in 2012. The 26 year-old was once ranked number 2 behind Chong Wei in Badminton Association of Malaysia’s ranking. But his current performance is reported to be depleting due to fitness issue. Before joining the National Team, Daren played for the Kuala Lumpur team.
Squash
Other than Nicol, Wee Wern too is in the World’s Top 10.Did you know the current World’s No. 6 squash player is 23 year-old Malaysian Low Wee Wern? In fact, the Penang-born is ranked in the top-20 at an earlier age than Nicol.
In 2010 Wee Wern made it to the Texas Open and Malaysian Open semi-finals, as well as making into round one as a qualifier in the Chennai Open, Caymen Islands Open and Malaysian Masters events. Her ranking in 2011 was No13 in the world and a year later she was at World’s No.7.
Earlier this month, Wee Wern competed in the Cleveland Classic and on Tuesday she will compete in the Windy City Open taking place at Chicago, US.
If she keeps her momentum, experts predict that Wee Wern will be following in the footsteps of her senior, Nicol.
Diving
Sarawakian Pandelela Rinong created a monumental history for Malaysia when she won bronze in 10m diving event at 2012 Summer Olympics in London. She was the first Malaysian to ever bring back home an Olympic medal in events other than Badminton.
Pandelela who is a Bidayuh was also the first Malaysian diver to win Commonwealth Games gold medal in a women’s 10m platform.
Some may wonder why did we include this 20 year-old in our to-look-out for list especially when she is an Olympic medallist? For simple reason – we aspire for Pandelela to bring back home a gold medal in this coming 2016 Rio-de-Jeneiro Olympic Games.
Malaysia’s very own Olympian, Pandelela.
Bowling
Other than Shalin Zulkifli’s who was the former Asian Number 1 bowling player, not a lot of Malaysians are aware of another National kegler Esther Cheah. The tenpin bowler is the daughter of Holloway Cheah, Malaysia’s bowling team’s coach and also a former National bowling powerhouse in the late 70’s. Today, at 72, he is regarded as one of the world’s best bowling coaches.
Esther is the country’s hope to win gold in soon-to-be-held Asian Games in Incheon that is set to take place on September 19 till October 4 this year. If she succeeded, Esther who is also a two-time World Tenpin Bowling Association World Champion (2005 Singles, 2007 Team) will end the eight-year gold drought in the Asian Games women’s bowling event.
More ‘Chong Weis’ and ‘Nicol Davids’
It is about time relevant sports bodies pay attention to high-potential sports talents in Malaysia to generate more ‘Chong Weis’ and ‘Nicol Davids’.
Chong Wei earlier in January has indicated his plans to retire by end of this year. With his announcement came an urgent move to find his successor. The New Straits Times reported that National singles coaches Tey Seu Bock, Rashid Sidek and Hendrawan have identified five Under-21 players who have begun training with Chong Wei. The aim is; to list these players in the World Top 10 by 2016.
As much as this is a noble effort, wouldn’t it be smarter for us to start looking for Chong Wei’s replacement a bit sooner?
In Nicol’s case, the world squash champion will be celebrating her 31st birthday this year. In sports standard, that is considered a senior age. She has yet to make any retirement announcement, but we have to brace ourselves that this day will soon arrive.
It is high time for the National Sports Council to start looking and develop a group of world-class athletes. Or we will run the risk of disappearing from the global map of sporting talents forever.
-mD
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