PETALING JAYA: Despite being far from home, Malaysians residing in France remain firmly connected to their roots by throwing their unflagging support behind Malaysian athletes competing in the Paris Olympics.
Sorensen Lau, 40, said Malaysians there were buzzing with excitement during the games, constantly updating each other with results.
The vice-president of the Malaysian Association in France managed to snag a last-minute ticket to watch badminton matches during the group stages.
As an international business development manager who has lived in the city for the past four years, Lau felt she could not miss this chance.
Proud moment: Tung (right) posing with Lee and two other fellow Malaysian volunteers, Cher Hui Yun (left) and Cher Han Yi (foreground).
She also had the pleasure of taking a photo with women’s doubles players Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah.
“It was my most memorable moment,” she said.
During the road cycling event, Lau waited by the roadside for a long time in hopes of seeing cyclist Nur Aisyah Mohamad Zubir, but unfortunately, did not spot her.
Postdoctoral scientist Kelvin Kho, 33, nearly lost his voice cheering for the men’s badminton doubles pair of Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik during their bronze medal match.
“I thought it was another lost opportunity for a medal when we were trailing 16-20 against the Danish pair in the second set.
“When they painstakingly caught up and won the set, the whole arena erupted and it was completely surreal when they won the game!” Kho said.
Housewife Tung Fengnee, 45, who has lived in Paris for three years, had the opportunity to volunteer at the Olympics.
Assigned to the Porte de La Chapelle Arena, where badminton events were held, she assisted the media team with player interviews post-match.
Not only did she manage to catch the badminton matches live, Tung also got to interact with players such as Lee Zii Jia, Chia and Soh.
“Every time I see Zii Jia after a match, I cheered him on,” she said.
English teacher Najwa Abdul Halim found it especially moving to see Malaysian athletes on the world stage.
“I felt a deep sense of pride. Watching the Malaysian team was a shared experience – we rejoiced in victories and felt sadness in defeats,” she said.
