Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Where do we stand, post-London 2012

The Malaysian contingent returned with a 0-1-1 medal haul in therecently concluded London Olympic Games. So was it a success or can the London sojourn be considered a failure?

How do we measure success? Is a silver medal from someone who had performed a similar feat four years earlier be deemed a success or do we celebrate the fact that we now have a discipline other than badminton that we can count on for medals in the future?

The Road to London progam, initiated by the National Sports Council (NSC), had earlier targeted the gold, which remains elusive and could prove to be elusive yet again in the next Olympics in Rio based on the statistics below.

In short, there are sports that should continue to be treated as Olympic sports, given all the necessary financial and moral support while others are only good for the Asian Games or Commonwealth Games standard. Malaysia were, for the record, represented by 30 athletes from eight sports - aquatics (diving/swimming), archery, athletics, badminton, cycling, fencing, sailing and shooting.

So where do we stand in terms of age, all-time best performance, ranking in Asia and medal prospects for Rio 2016?

Badminton (Wembley Arena)

Lee Chong Wei (Men's Singles)
Age: 29 years, 10 months 
Final position: Runners-up, silver medal
Best Asian: Lin Dan (China) 1st
Rank in Asia: 2nd
Previous best: Silver medal 2008
All-time best Malaysian performer: Lee Chong Wei (2008, 2012)
Prospect in Rio 2016: Nil
- Unfortunate for Chong Wei to be in the same era as arguably one of badminton's greatest ever Lin Dan. Silver more sentimental for country since LCW had to overcome a family crisis and a severe ankle injury before travelling to London. His track record in the Olympiad - Round 2 in Athens, silver in Beijing and silver in London. 

Koo Kien Kiet-Tan Boon Heong (Men's Doubles)
Age: 26 years, 11 months/24 years, 11 months
Final position: 4th
Best Asian: Cai Yun-Fu Haifeng (China) 1st
Rank in Asia: 3rd
Previous best: Quarterfinals in 2008
All-time best Malaysian performer: Cheah Soon Kit-Yap Kim Hock (2nd) Atlanta 1996
Prospect in Rio 2016: Nil
- Either they be split or expect inconsistency from the duo who beat Naoki Kawamae-Shoji Sato (Japan), former world champion Howard Bach-Tony Gunawan (United States), Issara Bodin-Jongjit Maneepong (Thailand) but lost to Cai Yun-Fu Haifeng in semis and Chung Jae-sung-Lee Yong Dae (South Korea) in bronze play-off.

Goh Liu Ying - Chan Peng Soon (Mixed Doubles)
Age:23 years, 3 months /24 years, 4 months
Final position: Bottom 4 from 16 pairs
Best Asian: Zhang Nan-Zhao Yunlei (China) 1st
Rank in Asia: 8th
Previous best: Debutants
All-time best Malaysian performer: First ever mixed doubles pairs to play in the Olympics
Prospect in Rio 2016: Quarterfinals
- A disappointing maiden outing for the duo who lost all three group matches but expect them to bounce back.

Tee Jing Yee (Women's Singles)
Age: 21 years, 6 months
Final position: 17 to 32
Best Asian: Li Xuerui (China) 1st
Rank in Asia: 15-17th
Previous best: Debutant
All time best Malaysian performer: Wong Mew Choo (quarterfinals) Beijing 2008
Prospect in Rio 2016: Quarterfinals
-  Lost one, won one but expect better things from Jing Yee.

Track cycling (London Velopark)

Azizulhasni Awang (Men's Keirin)
Age: 24 years, 7 months
Final position: 6th
Best Asian: Azizulhasni Awang
Rank in Asia: 1st
Previous best: 10th in Beijing
All-time best Malaysian performer: Josiah Ng (5th in Athens but disqualified for causing Mickael Bourgain to crash)
Prospect in Rio 2016: Podium finish
- Tried to outsprint physically superior rivals early to no avail but will be perennial contender for every major event


The media will remain supportive of our athletes


Azizulhasni Awang (men's Sprint)
Final position: 8th
Best Asian: Azizulhasni Awang
Rank in Asia: 1st
Previous best: 8th in Beijing
All-time best Malaysian performer: Azizulhasni Awang (London 2012)
Prospect in Rio 2016: Podium finish
- Top Asian rider but more is expected from Jojohasni
Josiah Ng (Men 's Sprint, keirin)

Age: 31 years, 11 months
Did not compete

Fatehah Mustapa (Women's Keirin)
Age: 23 years, 5 months
Final position: 16th
Best Asian: Guo Shuang (China) 2nd
Rank in Asia: 3rd
Pevious best: Debutant
All-time best Malaysian performer: Fatehah Mustapa (London 2012)
Prospect in Rio 2016: Semifinals
- Needs more exposure overseas

Road Cycling (The Mall)
Adiq Husainie Othman/Amir Mustafa Rusli
Age: 21 years, 4 months/25 years, 6 months
Final position: DNF (did not finish)
Best Asian: Fumiyuki Beppu (Japan) 22nd
Rank in Asia: Unranked
Previous best: Debutants
All-time best Malaysian performer: M. Kumaresan (Seoul 1988) 92nd
Prospect in Rio 2016: Doubtful
- Europe-based but performance not up to mark as they were among 29 riders who did not finish the race, having been told to quit as they were 18 minutes adrift of the leaders. Yukiya Arashiro, Wong Kam Po and Beppu were the Asians who managed to finish the race.

Diving (Aquatics Centre, Olympic Park)
Pandelela Rinong Pamg (10m platform, women's individual)
Age: 19 years, 5 months
Final standing: 3rd
Best Asian: Chen Ruo Lin (China) 1st
Rank in Asia: 2nd
Previous best: 27th in Beijing 2008
All-time best Malaysian performer: Pandelela Rinong (London 2012)
Prospect in Rio 2016: Silver medal
- Today darling of the nation but will forever have Chinese rivals to contend with
Traisy Vivien Tukiet (10m Platform, women's individual)
Age: 18 years old, 6 months
Final standing: 22nd in preliminary round
Best Asian: Chen Ruo Lin (China) 1st
Rank in Asia: 7th
Previous best: Debutant
All-time best Malaysian performer: Pandelela Rinong (London 2012)
Prospect in Rio 2016: Semifinals
- Expect her to play a supporting role


Pandelela Rinong and Leong Mun Yee (10m Platform Women's Synchronised)
Age: 19 years, 5 months/27 years, 8 months
Final standing: 7th
Best Asian: Chen Ruo Lin/Wang Hao (China) 1st
Rank in Asia: 2nd
Previous best: Debutants
All-time best Malaysian performer: Pandelela Rinong/Mun Yee (London 2012)
Prospect in Rio 2016: Pandelela to seek new partner, so doubtful
- Issue now who to replace Mun Yee!


The diving team in London

Bryan Nickson Lomas (10m Men's Platform)
Age: 22 years, 2 months
Final standing: 19th in preliminary round
Best Asian: Qiu Bo (silver medal)
Rank in Asia: 3rd
Previous best: 19th in Athens
All-time best Malaysian performer: Bryan Nickson Lomas (Athens 2004, London 2012)
Prospect in Rio 2016: Finals
- A disappointment by his standards, now has to make that step up

Yeoh Ken Nee (3m Men's Springboard)
Age: 29 years, 4 months
Final standing: 10th
Best Asian: Qin Kai (China) 2nd
Rank in Asia: 3rd
Previous best: 22nd in Sydney 2000
All-time best Malaysian performer: Yeoh Ken Nee (London 2012)
Prospect in Rio 2016: Nil, having retired after London 2012
- Will retire having qualified for a final in an Olympic event, finally

Huang Qiang (3m Men's Springboard)
Age: 30 years, 4 months
Final standing: 19th in preliminary round
Best Asian: Qin Kai (China) 2nd
Rank in Asia: 4th
Previous best: Debutant
All-time best Malaysian performer: Yeoh Ken Nee (London 2012)
Prospect in Rio 2016: Nil
- Naturalised Malaysian not likely to return to the pool but could play crucial role if Yang Zhuliang returns to Australia

Bryan Nickson and Huang Qiang (3m Men's Springboard Synchronised)
Age: 22 years, 2 months/30 years, 4 months
Final standing: 8th
Best Asian: Luo Yutong/Qin Kai (China) 1st
Rank in Asia: 2nd
Previous best: Debutants
All-time best Malaysian performer: First appearance in synchronised
Prospect in Rio 2016: Who to partner Bryan?
- Now, who to partner Bryan to at least maintain being No 2 in Asia?

Cheong Jun Hoong (3m Women's Springboard)
Age: 22 years, 4 months
Final standing: 20th in preliminary
Best Asian: Wu Minxia (China) 1st
Rank in Asia: 3rd
Previous best: Debutant
All-time best Malaysian performer: Cheong Jun Hoong (London 2012)
Prospect in Rio 2016: Same
- Should focus on Asian Games

Wendy Ng Yan Yee
Age: 22 years, 1month
Final standing: 24th in preliminary
Best Asian: Wu Minxia (China) 1st
Rank in Asia: 4th
Previous best: Debutant
All-time best Malaysian performer: Cheong Jun Hoong (London 2012)
Prospect in Rio 2016: Same
- Should focus on Asian Games

Pandelela Rinong and Cheong Jun Hoong (3m Women's Springboard Synchronised)
Age: 19 years, 5 months/22 years, 4 months
Final standing: 8th
Best Asian: He Zi/Wu Minxia (China) 1st
Rank in Asia: 2nd
Previous best: Debutants
All-time best Malaysian performer: Pandelela/Jun Hoong (London 2012)
Prospect in Rio 2016: Finalists
- Should focus on gold in Asian Games Incheon

Archery (Lords Cricket Ground)
Cheng Chu Sian, Kharul Anuar Mohamad, Haziq Kamaruddin - Men's Team Recurve
Age: 26 years, 5 months/20 years, 11 months / 19 years, 1 month
Final standing: 9-12th, lost to Mexico 216-211 in 1/8 elimination
Best Asian: South Korea (bronze)
Rank in Asia: 5th
Previous best: Quarterfinals in Beijing
All-time best Malaysian performer: Cheng Chu Sian, Marbawi Sulaiman, Wan Khalmizan Aziz quarterfinals Beijing 2008
Prospect in Rio 2016: Depends on duo to accompany Khairul Anuar
- A reshuffle is expected from now to Rio

Khairul Anuar Mohamad (individual)
Final standing: 6th (quarterfinalist)
Best Asian: Oh Jin  Hyek (South Korea) 1st
Rank in Asia: 5th
Previous best: Debutant  
All-time best Malaysian performer: Khairul Anuar Mohammad (London 2012)
Prospect in Rio 2016: Semifinals
- Lost to eventual silver medallist Takaharu Furukawa of Japan, Khairul is best prospect for a medal in Asian Games 2014, Olympics 2016


Cheng Chu Sian (individual)
Final standing: 33-64th, preliminary round
Best Asian: Oh Jin  Hyek (South Korea) 1st
Rank in Asia: 14th
Previous best:  8th, quarterfinalist Beijing 2008
All-time best Malaysian performer: Khairul Anuar Mohammad (London 2012)
Prospect in Rio 2016: Depends on whether or not Chu Sian wants to continue
- If he decides to take a break, may break his rhythm

Haziq Kamaruddin (individual)
Final standing: 33rd-64th, preliminary round
Best Asian: Oh Jin  Hyek (South Korea) 1st
Rank in Asia: 15th
Previous best: Debutant  
All-time best Malaysian performer: Khairul Anuar Mohammad (London 2012)
Prospect in Rio 2016: A lot to do
- Needs time and exposure to close the gap on Khairul

Nurul Syafiqah Hashim - Women's individual
Age: 18 years, 7 months
Final standing: 33-64th
Best Asian: Ki Bo Bae (South Korea) 1st
Rank in Asia: 13th and below
Previous best: Debutant
All-time best Malaysian performer: Mon Redee Sut Txi (44th) Athens 2004
- Needs higher level of competition at home and overseas. Asian Games podium could also prove unattainable

Shooting (Royal Artillery Barracks, Woolwich)
Nur Suryani Taibi -  women's 10m Air Rifle individual
Age: 29 years, 11 months
Final standing: 34th,  392 points in qualifying

Best Asian: Yi Siling (China) gold medal, 399, 502.9 in final
Rank in Asia: 10th
Previous best: Debutant
All-time best Malaysian performer: Nur Suryani Taibi (London 2012)
Prospect in Rio 2016: Nil
- If Nur Ayuni Farhana Abdul Halim gets life in order and hits form, Nur Suryani can retire and take care of daughter

Fencing (Excel)
Yu Peng Kean - Men's Individual Sabre
Age: 21 years, 3 months
Final standing: 32nd out of 37 fencers
Best Asian: Gu Bon Gil (Korea) 10th
Rank in Asia: 7th
Previous best: Debutant
All-time best Malaysian performer: Yu Peng Kean (London 2012)
- Thanks to SEA Games gold medal and Peng Kean's Olympic debut where he lost to world No 5 Aron Szilagyi of Hungary, fencing may have won nod of approval for financial backing for Asian Games

Sailing (Weymouth and Portland, Dorset)
Khairulnizam Mohd Affendy (men's laser)
Age: 19 years, 3 months
Final standing: 47th
Best Asian: Colin Cheng (Singapore) 15th
Rank in Asia: 4th
Previous best: Debutant
All-time best Malaysian performer: Kevin Lim (22nd) Sydney 2000
Prospect in Rio 2016: Top 30 at best
- Focus on getting a medal at the Asian Games

Open Water Swimming (Hyde Park)
Heidi Gan -10km Women's Marathon
Age: 23 years, 10 months
Final standing: 16th, 2:00.45
Best Asian: Yumi Kida (Japan) 13th, 1:58.59
Rank in Asia: 2nd
Previous best: Debutant
All-time best Malaysian performer: Heidi Gan (London 2012)
Prospect in Rio 2016: Will this event be held?
- Personal best by Perth-based Heidi should ensure financial assistance for SEA Games, Asian Games? 

Athletics (Olympic Park- Olympic Stadium)
Noraseela Khalid - women's 400m Hurdles
Age: 32 years, 11 months
Final standing: 39th
Best Asian: Satomi Kubokura (Jpn) 20th, 56.25sec
Rank in Asia: 3rd
Previous best: Debutant 
National mark: Noraseela Khalid (56.02sec) 2005
All-time best Malaysian performer: Noraseela Khalid (London 2012)
Prospect in Rio 2016: No women hurdlers in foreseeable future
- A poor performance may spell the end of the road for Noraseela
Lee Hup Wei - Men's High Jump
Age: 25 years, 3 months
Final standing: 31st
Best Asian: Mutaz Essa Barshim (Qatar) bronze medal
Rank in Asia: 4th
Previous best: 32nd, 2.20m (Beijing 2008)
National mark: Lee Hup Wei (2.27m) 2008 
All-time best Malaysian performer: Lee Hup Wei (Beijing 2008)
Prospect in Rio 2016: Finals
- May or may not be able to compete in Rio but should focus on Incheon

Swimming (Olympic Park-Aquatics Centre)
Khoo Cai Lin - 800m Freestyle
Age: 23 years, 8 months
Final standing: 30th, Sixth in Heat 2, 8:51.18
Best Asian: Shao Yiwen (China) 9th, 8:27.78
Rank in Asia: 3rd
Previous best:  34th, 9:04.86 (Beijing 2008)
All-time best Malaysian performer: Nurul Huda Abdullah (Seoul 1988) 8:50.84
- Should focus on the Asian Games


Finally, the concept was nice, but not the colour-coordination


19 comments:

Anonymous said...

BRO, setiap 4 tahun inilah kisah sukan tanahair ku. Tunggu kat Brazil nanti 1Malaysia akan harapkan emas pertama dari LCW?

Anonymous said...

Apa jadi dengan sukan taekwando negara? Malaysia mendapat pingat olimpik yang pertama melalui sukan ini menerusi pingat gangsa yang dimenangi oleh M. Vasugi, walaupun pada Sukan Olimpik 1988 di Seoul, sukan taekwando hanyalah acara pertunjukan. Melihat kepada negara jiran Thailand yang memenangi 2 pingat perak dan 1 pingat gangsa di Sukan Olimpik London 2012 ini, pingat gangsa mereka itu disumbangkan oleh atlit taekwando.

Anonymous said...

My deepest unfinished sympathy unto you, RH. Your comments would be "sportingly" ignored by those who loves to politicize everything, including sports, on a daily basis.
May your words of wisdom takes national sports onto the highest dignity and destined triumph, that is, to EXCEL and to be proud of, without the mercy of any politician, whoever he/she may be! Kudos to you...

mimya said...

it's a clear failure...gold is our target so anyone pls don't try to divert ppl's attention by saying we are successful to bring silver and bronze.

Quite disappointing with archery. Felt hurt when jijoe once again lost, in exactly the same way as in Beijing. Don't ever give face to Koo-Tan anymore...ever...ever....enough is enough!

Now waiting for the minister to respond as he did mention that he will take responsibility if we don't get gold...

kaki sukan said...

Yeah Mimya, it is about time Koo should consider leaving BAM. He is too good a player to partner Tan...or better still he should try to persuade Tan to follow him..maybe to a private club. Which one you ask? Why,come now, surely Koo deserves nothing but the best, which is the club that offers gold bars as incentives. BAM doesn't listen to him..He is god given boon to BAM, how BAM/MSN dares to tell him that he is not disciplined, arrogant without a cause..ha ha ha maafkan saya Bro.
WSalam. kaki sukan

HSKAMAL said...

In badminton LCW and the technical staff/coaches should take the entire blame for the failure.
It was so sad for Malaysians to witness LCW being in a position to grab the gold but failed miserably.

Badminton is a very demanding sport, one has to be at their best thinking ability when it matters most(Vision & Awareness)these are the fundamentals in sports.

We may have the right or the best program development, but one thing we must remember is, when it comes to producing talent it involves the mass. "Have we address these issues involving the mass?" the root of the problem and weather repairable or otherwise.

We must learn sports science, management from US and the training regime from the Chinese.

Anonymous said...

why dont RH comment about NSC and OCM's "performance"????
to make it interesting, why dont u comment about Jojo's performance. very dissapointing! Zol and Naim : comments?

Anonymous said...

Interesting. No post-mortem of the NSC at all!How come, you never shone the spotlight on the NSC, Rizal? Are they not to be held accountable for the failure to win gold in London? That was the target after all, right? Right or not? Thse days I am told, you avoid criticising the NSC. Is there a reason? You more like politician now.Not the sportswriter I knew.Well...that is life.

tokman said...

Getting 1 silver and a bronze is definitely a success for the country. However, there is room for improvement if we can focus on swimming, diving, rowing as these sports offer so many medals. Athletes from Sabah and Sarawak have the potentials to do well in those sports! Taekwan Doe, Karate and other contact sports should be given more emphasis compare to team sports football, hockey etc. Koo and Tan our doubles pair should part and try out new partners if they want to represent the country!

Anonymous said...

menang 1 perak & gangsa tapi kecoh macam menang emas! negara kecil & afrika pun boleh menang emas. kalau tak pandai belajarlah kat mereka macammana nak lahirkan pemenang emas kat olympik, bukan menang berpuluh emas kat sukan sea

vetran badminton said...

Assalamualaikum dan selamat Hari Raya kepada Rizal dan rakan-rakan sukan.

Mimya memang ada kebenaran.
Tapi apapun sila semak prestasi mereka, tak lain macam yoyo. kejap naik selang satu pertandingan prestasi jatuh macam nangka busuk. peminat ditimpa pula, alasan berjela jela tak ada yang baru. Apa High Performance Donkeys buat!!! Jurulatih pulak pandai main politik sejak balik dari Korea. Mana jurulatih bagi peluang kedua pada Zakry/ Fairuz, Bin Shen/ teik chai. Satu haprak tak akan ada selagi pasangan itu tak ditukar. Gemuk satu hal, disiplin tak ada, asyik minum jus syaitan, dan ada ura-ura berjudi pulak. mana nak jadi juara, juara tuak bolehlah..
WSalam Rizal

Anonymous said...

Saya setuju dengan Tokman
Kiranya Koo dan Tan tak dipisah dan digandingkan dengan pasangan mungkin juga kita ada peluang..Kalau tidak cuba dan tunggu satu atau dua tahun lagi baru nak cuba, itu sudah terlambat. Mengapa tidak gunakan kepakaran Yap Kim Hock atau Cheah Soon Kit? Terutama sekali Yap ada pernah menjadi jurulatih peringkat elit. Apakah pencapaian jurulatih beregu sekarang ini? Dulu BAM dengar cakap pemain halau Rexy sekarang pula manjakan jurulatih dan pemain yang sudah pancet..
Alahai apalah nasib kita warga badminton.

Sports News Blog said...

It's too bad squash is not in the Olympics. Otherwise Malaysia would have won at least 2 gold now.

Anonymous said...

Anon 9:20 - tahu ke mcm mana negara kecil dan afrika tu lahirkan jaguh2. Share la sikit. Lu kan pakar sukan.

nak jadi HPD said...

Wahai rakan-rakan sukan tanahair yang dihormati, khususnya peminat badminton.

Cuba perhatikan pencapaian skuad badminton di Vietnam,HoChiMinh

Apa dah jadi dgn singles wanita? semua bungkus. Apa cerita HPD kita? Bergu-bergu lelaki ramai kaput.Apa jurulatih buat? Media perlu peka dengan wayang kulit ini. lihat gelagat dia.

apa nak dikato..dengan sistem kejurulatihan BAM atau macam kata vetran badminton cakap

High Peformance Donkeys HPD masuk angin keluar hampagas je le

selamat hari raya bro dan rakan2 sukan

Wlk.Salam

kaki sukan said...

Sorry sports news blog, there are no stiff competition and so I suppose Olympic Council seems not too keen to promote Squash.

facts: How many major countries actively plays squash compared to say table tennis, badminton?

Whether there are credible top 50 contenders in the game?

Not wanting to take away the awesome effort by Malaysian squash queen, but may be Olympic Council may have compared apple for apple and concluded not to squeeze in squash into Olympic games.

Anonymous said...

Bro indon dgn thai pun x menang emas. Kena support la atlet kita yang terus menerus berjuang dem negara. Kalau pandai komen sahaja tapi main sukan pun tidak, involved persatuan pun tidak atau tak support aktiviti sukan sampai bila pun sukan kita tak kemana. Malaysian kalau tak komen mcm pernah wakil ke olimpik tapi sumbangan kepada sukan habuk pun tarak.

Anonymous said...

Azizul is among the best in the world. We should be proud. Not dissapointed. He has many years to come and we hope he will bring gold medal back to our beloved country.

Anonymous said...

tengoklah bertapa gemuknya Koo Kien Keat.mana nak gerak sepantas kilat.Apa sudah jadi dengan pemukul smash yang terpantas didunia, takkan dia pegang pada rekod saja. Mengapa tak ulangi dalam pertandingan sekarang.