14. Malaysia's Olympiad Outing

from The New Straits Times

This is a question that must run through the minds of the national athletes when cyclist Azizul Hasni Awang leads them out for what promises to be a spectacular Beijing Olympic Games opening ceremony tonight.

It will, no doubt, be an emotional outing for the athletes as they bask, in the splendour of the Bird's Nest Stadium, in the attention of billions around the world but the opening ceremony must not be the climax of their Olympic experience.

It must be the catalyst from where the 33 who qualified strive to deliver their best for what they achieve in Beijing will have a profound effect on the future of Malaysian sport.

They must also be mindful that the outcry that followed the disaster that the Athens Olympics were four years ago will seem pretty subdued to what can be expected if Beijing turns out to be the same.

In fact, the pressure has already got to some and the brave talk of just weeks ago where gold was targeted has now been replaced with "even a medal will do" but will it?

No, for Malaysian sport, in any climate, can't afford it any more.

Malaysians have had enough of 'Jaguh Kampungs' and asking them to wait another four years for London for another tilt at gold is no longer acceptable.

No stone has been left unturned to ensure a golden outing in Beijing and the RM1 million carrot, much criticised but sorely needed, should motivate those with a chance to dig deep and produce their best.

The shuttlers, as always, are our best hope and another reason for them to seize this opportunity is because badminton may find itself out of the 2016 Olympics.

Once out, finding a way back in will be nearly impossible and unless Malaysia suddenly improves in other sports, that could also signal the end of our Olympic gold hopes so Lee Chong Wei and company must - as unfair as it may seem - deliver.

Men's pair Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong must rediscover the magic of the 2006 Doha Asian Games while veterans Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah must find it in themselves to finally deliver, having failed in the semi-finals in Sydney and the last eight in Athens.

Josiah Ng, with Azizul Hasni providing support, must also fulfil a promise he made in Athens when he finished sixth in the keirin for Malaysia desperately wants to see him win after settling for silver in the 2002 and 2006 Asian Games.

Azizul Hasni is, by all accounts, a tremendous cyclist and should the opportunity present itself, grab it.

The same goes for the archers, ranked fourth in the world, and when they compete in the team ranking round tomorrow, stage fright must not get the better of them in their bid to be seeded.

A medal start from the archers could well set the stage for Malaysia's greatest ever show at the Olympics and also provide the boost for the others, some merely chasing national records and personal bests in Beijing, the momentum to push ever harder.

Each and every athlete has a role to play in Beijing and it is essential that they do for failure is no longer an option.