Let’s support our athletes

MALAYSIAN athletes from various sporting fields have qualified for the Paris Olympics – cycling, badminton, archery, shooting, weight lifting, road cycling, sailing, diving and golf.

It is disheartening and disturbing to already find negative comments about them on social media. All those who wrote “Confirm kalah, balik awal” (confirmed to be defeated, return early) should be ashamed to call themselves Malaysians. Why are we so negative towards our athletes?

Look at countries like India. Their diaspora always unites no matter where they are in the world to post positive comments whenever Indian athletes compete. Look at us, comfortably sitting on the couch and writing negative posts on Facebook. Saying our athletes will lose, and putting up the laughing emoji.

Most concerning is how hate speech is escalating on social media, with many abusive, demoralising, demeaning, toxic comments spreading lies and negativity. The government needs to take proactive measures to curb this hostility towards our athletes.

We need more influencers to address this issue too. Sports personalities like Nicol David, who is also the Deputy Chef De Mission for the Paris Olympics, will surely provide a valuable voice in fighting hate speech against athletes.

Even if there is only a 1% possibility of getting a medal, Malaysians should go all out to support these sportsmen and women. After all, at the Olym-pics, anything can happen.

During the 2012 London Olympics, Malaysians went all out to support the athletes and finalists – and not because an ice cream brand promised free ice cream but because we are Malaysians. At the 2016 Rio Olympics, we saw a government minister sitting in the arena praying when a Malaysian athlete made it to the finals. That is the kind of patriotic fervour that we need, supporting all athletes unconditionally without partiality, regardless of their gender, race, popularity of their sports, and whether they are independent athletes or otherwise.

And please stop comparing the current generation of sports people with their seniors, be it Siva-sangari Subramaniam (squash), Shah Firdaus Sahrom (cycling), Lee Zii Jia (badminton) or Azeem Fahmi and Shereen Samson (athletics).

These athletes are in a different era from their seniors, trying to carve their unique career paths in a highly competitive sports world. Instead of clinging to past glory, let us acknowledge that sports is evolving rapidly. As a mature and rational society, we should appreciate current talent instead of constantly judging them. To be constantly compared – negatively – is not a good thing for any human being, what more an athlete.

Besides moral support, we need to assist our athletes financially for them to realise their fullest potential. Nur Shazrin (sailing) and Bertrand Rhodict (diving) are the first ones to qualify for the Paris Olympics, but the former is not part of the RTG (Road to Gold) government programme. Is there sufficient funding from private organisations?

Woman shuttler Goh Jin Wei is putting on a brave front despite her ailment that only allows her to have one meal a day. What kind of medical assistance is she getting? What about retired para-athletes, are they given financial aid?

Come July 26, Malaysians from all walks of life should get together to rally behind our athletes wholeheartedly, without prejudice and reservations. Show them 100% support and send them positive vibes. After all, athletes are our ambassadors who put the national flag on their chests. They deserve our highest respect, appreciation and support.

DR S. MATHANA AMARIS FIONA

Puchong, Selangor