Janet in CultureSports & Fitness On August 3, 2021, 5:00 pm

10 Malaysian Athletes Who Debuted At The Tokyo 2020 Olympics & Made Us Proud

Malaysian athletes debuting at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics

Back in 1964, Malaysia sent their first athletes to compete at the Olympic Games. Since then, we’ve seen talented individuals come out to represent our country in almost every Summer Olympics – with familiar faces and fresh ones making us proud all the same. This year’s Tokyo 2020 Olympics sees a total of 30 Malaysian athletes sent abroad to represent us.

Besides athletes we’ve been rooting for in previous Olympics, there are a crop of new athletes who made their debuts at this year’s Games too. Here are 10 Malaysian Olympians who are attending their first Olympic Games this year.

1. Azreen Nabila Alias, 21, Athletics

Azreen Nabila Alias, a Malaysian athlete, making her Olympic Games debut at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Image credit: Harian Metro

Before competing at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic games in the Women’s 100m race event, Malaysian athlete Azreen Nabila Alias was juggling between college exams and training sessions.

In an interview with Bernama on 7th July 2021, the 21-year-old sprinter from Kuala Terengganu said that she was very busy at that time as she had to split her time between final exams, college classes, and training sessions. But she did it all in stride, motivated by her parents’ words of encouragement.

It was also her late father’s wish to see her succeed as an athlete. Her dream sees a promising start with a spot at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, after receiving a last-minute Olympic wild card to compete.

Image credit: Majlis Sukan Negara Malaysia

When asked what her goal was at her Olympic Games debut, Azreen shared that she wanted to beat her personal record of 11.81 seconds instead of the national record.

While she did not qualify for the semi-finals, she did impressively break her own record. During the preliminary rounds on the same day, she placed a personal best of 11.60 seconds, while also placing second overall.

This new personal best is just 0.10 seconds shy of the current record held by Malaysian athlete, Shanti Govindasamy, who recorded 11.50 seconds at the 1993 SEA Pre-Games in KL.

Before this, Azreen also won a bronze medal she at the 2019 Philippines Southeast Asia (SEA) Games.

2. Jeremiah Loo Phay Xing, 25, Gymnastics

Image credit: @jeremiah_loo

Another new face at the Olympic Games is Jeremiah Loo Phay Xing, who hails from Penang. He was also notified of his Olympic debut on short notice – just a month before the event kicked off in July 2021. Nonetheless, he gave his best shot and placed 62nd out of 66 competitors in the Men’s Artistic Gymnastics All-Around qualification round before bowing out of the Games.

The chance to compete in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics almost didn’t happen. In an interview with International Gymnast Media in May 2021, Loo said he had considered retiring in 2020.

He was mainly concerned about a shoulder injury sustained in June 2019, and was in need of confidence to compete in the Olympics after recovering from the injury. It was his mother who reminded him of his promising career as a national artistic gymnast.

Image credit: @jeremiah_loo

And while Loo may be a fresh face at the Olympics, he started his professional career in 2014 at the Youth Olympic Games. Before that, he had been training since the age of seven, even undergoing a training term in China from 2012 to 2014. He also participated at international tournaments, such as the World Championships and Asian Championships. At the 2017 SEA Games held in KL, he bagged the gold medal for pommel horse.

Bouncing back from his exit from the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, and showing that he has much to offer in the future, he plans to qualify for the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics.

3. Aaron Chia, 24, Badminton

Image credit: @aaronchiatengfong

Before making his Olympic Games debut, Aaron Chia played badminton as a hobby in his hometown of Melaka, starting from the tender age of seven years old. He later began competing at age 10, and made his international debut at the 2014 Indonesia International Series.

He’s been partnered with shuttler Soh Wooi Yik since 2015. Together, they qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, and are currently placed at an impressive ninth in the men’s doubles world rankings by the Badminton World Federation (BWF). The pair also won the bronze medal at the Men’s Doubles, bagging the first medal for Malaysia at this year’s Games.

As an Olympian, Chia shared that his driving force is his family, saying that he wants his two daughters and wife to be “proud of him”, as they serve as inspiration for him to do well at the Olympics.

He’s also come above criticisms he received on his comparatively shorter height, after many told him that it’ll stop him from doing well in his badminton career. In response, he called his height a “hidden gem”, saying that his secret weapon is actually his jumping smash.

To combat criticism, he chooses instead to focus on improving things that he can change as an athlete, such as strength and discipline.

4. Soh Wooi Yik, 23, Badminton

Soh, right, and partner Chia, left, are Malaysian athletes making their Olympic Games debut at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Image credit: Badminton Association of Malaysia

Soh started playing badminton at the tender age of four. While it may seem young for others, badminton runs in Soh’s family. His father Soh Goon Chup, and uncle, Soo Beng Kiang, are both former badminton players. His uncle competed at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics alongside Datuk Cheah Soon Kit, helping bring home the 1993 Thomas Cup for Malaysia too.

Following in his elders’ footsteps, and wanting to “become a champion” for his family, Soh managed to topple the world’s number one Indonesia badminton doubles alongside Chia. After they lost an impressive game against China’s Li Jun Hui and Liu Yu Chen, who are ranked number 4, they managed to win a bronze medal for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

Chia and Yik told Olympics.com on 26th May 2021 that their dream is to qualify for the Olympic Games. After that, they hope to win a bronze or silver medal, and then a gold medal. They’ve successfully managed to achieve the first two goals at their first Olympics, qualifying for this year’s Olympic Games and winning a bronze medal.

5. Juni Noor Jamali, 18, Sailing

Juni Karimah Noor, right, pictured with Nuraisyah Jamil, left.
Image credit: Berita Harian

Juni Noor Jamali from Kedah is the youngest Malaysian Olympian on this list. But don’t be fooled by her young age. She’s already competed in several international events, including the Class World Championships and Class Asian Championships, all held in 2019.

All these impressive involvements came after she started competitive sailing just three years before that, in 2016.

Image credit: @junikarimah_

While training for the 2019 Class Asian International Championships in China to qualify for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, she received news that her grandfather had passed away before the tournament, as reported by Harian Metro on 23rd December 2019. He had been one of her strong supporters ever since she started competitive sailing.

Nonetheless, she and sailing partner, Nuraisyah Jamil, managed to score 5th place in the competition, successfully earning them both tickets to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

6. Nuraisyah Jamil, 23, Sailing

Image credit: New Straits Times

Qualifying to compete in the Olympic Games is no easy feat for any athlete. Nuraisyah Jamil, from Johor, unfortunately missed out on qualifying for the Rio 2016 Olympics by a hair’s breadth, which she shared was a heartbreaking moment for her.

But she’s come back stronger than before – shown in her win with partner Juni at the 2019 Class Asian International Championships, which landed them spots to the Olympic Games this year.

This marks the first time Malaysia has been involved in the sailing event at the Olympic Games. But it won’t be the last time, as Nuraisyah said that one of the sailing partners’ aims at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics is to use their experience there to motivate them for the next Paris 2024 Olympics.

7. Syaqiera binti Mashayikh, 21, Archery

Syaqiera, a Malaysian athlete, making her Olympics ebut at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Image credit: Olympic Council of Malaysia

Syaqiera binti Mashayikh, from Johor, has been competing as an archer since she was 10. She was inspired to pick up the sport after chancing upon her favourite films – Pixar animation, Brave, and The Hunger Games – where the female heroines navigate their stories with their bows at their sides.

Showing the same bravery, her involvement in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics will be her first Olympic Games and third international tournament. She’s also the third national archer competing in the Olympic Games, marking a return of Malaysian athletes in the archery event, after Mon Redee Sut Txi competed at the Athens 2004 Olympics and Nurul Syafiqah Hashim’s run at the London 2012 Olympics.

Syaqiera has since exited the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. But she’s holding her chin high, sharing that “self-confidence” was the most valuable takeaway for her after competing in the Games, which she will use as experience to improve herself for future tournaments.

While competing as an Olympian, she managed to beat her personal best of 619 points, scoring 630 points and finishing 43rd in the Women’s Individual Recurve event. This is something to be proud of, as it surpasses the previous best of 626 points achieved by Mon Redee.

8. Muhmmad Shah Firdaus Shahrom, 26, Cycling

Image credit: M.Shah Firdaus

Arriving at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics hot off an impressive gold win at the 2021 Australian National Track Cycling Championship is Johor-born Muhammad Shah Firdaus Shahrom.

He’s been competing in international events since 2013, when he was 18 years old, but it’s his first time competing at the Olympic Games. Several tournaments he’s taken part in his career include the Asian Championships, World Championships and Commonwealth Games.

Image credit: M.Shah Firdaus

At his first Olympic appearance, Shah Firdaus hopes to follow the footsteps of Dato’ Azizulhasni Awang, another Malaysian professional track cyclist who brought home a bronze medal in the men’s keirin event at the Rio 2016 Olympics. But it is simply his dream to be able to compete in the Olympic Games, which he has managed to achieve at age 26.

9. Farah Ann, 27, Gymnastics

Image credit: @farahann94

Farah Ann, from Subang Jaya, is an artistic gymnast with an impressive list of international tournaments under her belt, including the Commonwealth Games and SEA Games. She also has a track record of tournament wins – with seven gold medals, two silver medals, and three bronze medals earned at the SEA Games from 2011 to 2019, among others.

While she’s already an accomplished athlete, even having a Barbie doll in her likeness, the Tokyo 2020 Olympics will be her first Olympic Games. She’s also the third Malaysian gymnast to qualify for the Olympic Games after 17 years – following after Au Li Yen’s footsteps at the Sydney 2000 Olympics and Ng Shu Wai at the Athens 2004 Olympics.

Image credit: @farahann94

Her career started at the young age of three, which began as an outlet for her to express herself as she was an active child. At just 10, she began representing Malaysia at international tournaments. During her promising career as a gymnast, she had to deal with criticism due to her costumes. She also sustained several injuries, which made her contemplate retirement several times in her career. This includes a foot injury that left her heartbroken and unable to qualify for the Rio 2016 Olympics.

She’s since completed her run at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. But one of her goals is to inspire other gymnasts in Malaysia through her inspiring career and opportunity to compete in the Olympic Games.

10. Lee Zii Jia, 23, Badminton

Lee Zii Jia, a Malaysian badminton player, making his Olympics debut at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Image credit: Majlis Sukan Negara Malaysia

Malaysians are now well-acquainted with Lee Zii Jia, Malaysia’s budding badminton player. He has been garnering nationwide recognition since his biggest win at the 2021 All England Open Badminton Championship.

Before the Kedah-born shuttler won over the country with his performance at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Lee began playing competitive badminton at 13 years old. He started off at the age of six due to health reasons, and has since competed at several international tournaments to secure his spot as a promising Malaysian badminton player.

Image credit: BWF Badminton

Early in his career, he had a difficult time dealing with pressure to become the next Malaysia badminton star following Datuk Lee Chong Wei’s success. He also sustained a back injury and had to pull out of the 2020 Badminton Association of Malaysia Invitational Championships.

But he’s now paving a bright future ahead of him, qualifying and making his Olympic Games debut at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. He put up an impressive fight against Chen Long on 29th July at the Men’s Single quarter-final, although he lost to his challenger.

Nonetheless, he’s shared that one of his sporting ambitions is to compete at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics – and he had done just that, and with impressive games to be proud of during his journey there to look back on too.

Malaysian athletes who made their debut at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics

The Olympic Games never fail to unite Malaysians rooting for competing athletes representing the country. These 10 Malaysian Olympians who made their debut at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics show us that while Malaysia has yet to win a gold medal, we have many promising athletes ready to do whatever they can to achieve their goals and make us proud.