It’s a long wish list for 2024 but let’s strive to make it all come true

WHILE we take a moment to reflect on missions accomplished throughout 2023, there is no limit to what we can achieve the next 12 months.

Throughout 2023, the nation celebrated the installation of four world champions – lawn bowlers Nur Ain Nabila Tarmizi and Aleena Ahmad Nawawi in the women’s pair in Australia, bowler Natasha Roslan in the women’ singles in Kuwait, bodybuilder Datuk Mohd Syarul Azman Mahen Abdullah in men’s athletic physique up to 167cm in South Korea, and wushu exponent Wong Weng Son in the men’s changquan in the United States.

Here’s my wish list for Malaysian sports in 2024.

*Athletics

Sprinter Azeem Fahmi to clock 10s and qualify for Paris on merit. With a personal best of 10.09s clocked in the World Athletics Under-20 Championship in Cali, Colombia in 2022, the 100m Asian Games bronze medallist, Azeem is currently ranked 36 in the Road to Paris rankings and has to finish in the top 48 before the June 30 deadline.

Hangzhou Asian Games bronze medallist Shereen Samson Vallabuoy who cracked the late Rabia Abdul Salam’s 30-year-old 400m women’s national record by clocking 51.80s in April, has to dip below 51.00s to earn a ticket to Paris.

*Badminton

For Malaysia’s Thomas Cup squad to end the 32-year wait for the Cup scheduled from April 27-May 5 in Chengdu, China.

*Esports

Since the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has hinted at a separate Olympics for esports, a national body for the sports that is recognised by the IOC and also International Federation is imperative.

*Football

AFC Asian Cup finals 2023

Despite being the lowest-ranked team in Group E, the national football team to enter the round of 16 in the AFC Asian Cup finals. Kim Pan-gon’s men take on Jordan on Jan 16, followed by Bahrain (Jan 20) and South Korea (Jan 25). Malaysia’s previous appearance as hosts left much to be desired as Norizan Bakar’s disciples lost 5-1 to China, 5-0 to Uzbekistan and 2-0 to Iran in 2007.

Pan-gon is only the fourth coach to lead Malaysia in the finals, following Datuk M. Kuppan (Iran, 1976), Mohamad Che Su (Kuwait,1980) and Norizan Bakar (Kuala Lumpur, 2007).

He is fortunate that the tournament has been expanded to 24 teams, with Pan-gon placing his trust on experienced players - Natxo Insa (37), Brendan Gan (35) and Paulo Josue (34).

FIFA World Cup 2026-AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers

The national team to remain on track to qualify for the third round the FIFA World Cup 2026 Asian zone when the qualifiers resume in March, where Malaysia take on Oman on March 21.

As things stand, Malaysia ended the year as the most outstanding team from South-East Asia after two matches, being the only team from the region to earn the maximum six points after beating Taiwan (1-0) and Kyrgyzstan (4-30.

AFC Champions League

With JDT appearing to be from another planet in local terms, having bagged 10 straight league titles, they ought to expand their empire beyond Malaysian shores and start standing toe-to-toe with the big clubs from Asia.

Green green grass of home

The much-maligned pitch is primed for the World Cup qualifiers and that the Stadium Board does not have to issue apologies, however delayed!

*Hockey

The Speedy Tigers to qualify for the Olympics after last making the cut in Sydney 2000 despite the disappointing outing in Hangzhou, where they finished sixth and subsequently dropped from the Road to Gold (RTG).

Head coach A. Arulselvaraj has selected the core players of from the recent Junior World Cup (JWC) to train with his men ahead of the Olympic qualifiers in Oman.

With Shahril Saabah back in contention after a long lay-off, a top three finish will earn them a ticket to Paris, which is naturally one of Arul’s 50th birthday wishes.

*Multi-Sports Games

The Malaysian contingent to strike gold finally in Paris 2024. Whether it’s going to be Datuk Azizulhasni Awang or the men’s doubles shuttlers, Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik or anyone from the Road to Gold (RTG) or Podium program, Malaysians demand the gold medal.

The biennial Malaysia Games (Sukma), to uncover unpolished gems who can make the transition into the senior scene and go beyond.

Only a handful of the best male and female athletes of the Games did make the transition, such as Azmi Ibrahim (1992 and 1994), Shalin Zulkifli (1992), Chai Song Lip (1998), Allen Ong and Sia Wai Yen (2000), Ng Shun Mun and Ngew Sin Mei (2002), Daniel Bego (2004) and Irfan Shamshuddin (2014).

*Legends

Greater appreciation is shown to our footballing legends, especially the 1972 Olympic Games squad, with only eight remaining members – Datuk Soh Chin Ann, Wong Kam Fook, Lim Fong Kee, Rahim Abdullah, Looi Loon Teik, Hamzah Hussein, Bahwandi Hiralal and Khoo Luen Khen following the demise of Harun Jusoh in October and Shaharuddin Abdullah four days before the new year.From the bronze medal winning squad of the 1962 Asian Games in Jakarta, the two remaining survivors are Robert Choe and Stanley Gabrielle, following Ibrahim Mydin’s demise. Seven from the Asian Games 1974 squad are still alive – Chin Ann, Datuk Shukor Salleh, Datuk Santokh Singh, Hanafiah Ali, Wong Kuw Fou, P. Umaparam and Wong Hee Kok.

Lastly, let us pray for ceasefire in all areas of conflict, in line with the Olympic values of excellence, respect and friendship, with a view to building a better world throughsports.

May 2024 bring peace and compassion to the world.