Khairul and Liu Ying named as flag bearers for Tokyo

Breaking the tradition: Malaysia will have two flag bearers – Goh Liu Ying and Khairul Anuar Mohamad (inset) – at the Tokyo Olympic Games.

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia have made a break with tradition by naming badminton mixed doubles specialist Goh Liu Ying and archer Khairul Anuar Mohamad as the flag bearers for the Tokyo Olympics from July 23-Aug 8.

The decision was made during the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) executive board meeting yesterday.

This will also be the first time an archer is given the honour of carrying the Jalur Gemilang at the Games.

The 29-year-old recurve archer had qualified early for the Olympics when he won the silver medal at the 2019 World Archery Championships in Holland. Tokyo will be the Terengganu-born Khairul’s third Games appearance.

Meanwhile, the 31-year-old Liu Ying and her partner Chan Peng Soon will be making their second appearance after their silver-medal effort in Rio 2016.

Liu Ying joins the likes of shuttlers Lee Chong Wei (Rio) and Razif Sidek (Barcelona, 2012) as the nation’s flag bearers.

Diver Pandelela Rinong was the last woman to have carried the flag at the London Games in 2012.

List of flag bearers 2016 Rio de Janeiro: Lee Chong Wei (badminton)

2012 London: Pandelela Rinong (diving)

2008 Beijing: Azizulhasni Awang (cycling)

2004 Athens: Bryan Nickson Lomas (diving)

2000 Sydney: Mirnawan Nawawi (hockey)

1996 Atlanta: Nor Saiful Zaini (hockey)

1992 Barcelona: Razif Sidek (badminton)

1988 Seoul: Nordin Jadi (athletics)

1984 Los Angeles: Sabiamad Abdullah Ahad (shooting)

1976 Montreal: Ishtiaq Mubarak (athletics)

1972 Munich: Ali Bakar (football)

1968 Mexico City: Nashatar Singh Sidhu (athletics)

1964 Tokyo: Kuda Ditta (athletics)

1960 Rome: Shahrudin Mohd Ali (athletics)

1956 Melbourne: Tan Kim Bee (weightlifting)