Our hopes: The Malaysian badminton team led by Wong Ling Ching (left) overcame France 3-0 to march into the quarter-finals. Mohd Azeem Fahmi (right) will be in action next week.
Malaysia hope Hoe Yean’s silver at Games will inspire medal shows in badminton, athletics
PETALING JAYA: One medal down and six to go. Swimmer Khiew Hoe Yean set the pace with a milestone silver medal in the men’s 400m freestyle final at the World University Games (WUG) and the focus will shift to the badminton court and athletics arena in Rhine-Ruhr, Germany, over the next few days.
It will be tough going to add to the medal count for the swimming team given they are up against quality opposition unless Hoe Yean can spring a surprise in his final event - the men’s 200m backstroke - next week.
Hoe Yean missed out on the men’s 200m freestyle final after finishing 13th fastest in the semi-finals (1:48.91s). Another Malaysian swimmer Arvin Shaun Singh placed 16th in the semi-finals (1:49.64s).
Only the top eight swimmers advance to the final.
Andrew Goh also missed the semi-finals after finishing 24th fastest in the men’s 200m breaststroke (2:17.84s).
In badminton, the Malaysian team led by Malaysia Games (Sukma) gold medallist Wong Ling Ching stayed on course for a medal in the mixed team event. Malaysia overcame France 3-0 yesterday to march into the quarter-finals.
The national team will take on India next and a win will guarantee a medal together with a place in the semis.
Malaysia are likely to face champions Japan or Taiwan if they enter the last four.
The badminton team, made up largely of national shuttlers, hope to improve on the two bronze medals they picked up at the last Games in Chengdu, China, two years ago.
Malaysia’s chef de mission Assoc Prof Datuk Dr Mohd Hafiz Yusoff said Hoe Yean’s silver medal added value to the contingent as it came at the expense of the athlete setting a new national record (3:47.38s).
“It’s a perfect boost to our contingent on the first day of the Games and will generate momentum as other sports get underway.
“We hope our badminton team can enter the final (on Sunday) and after that we also have the track and field events next week. We have top national athletes like sprinter Mohd Azeem Fahmi and Umar Osman competing who will carry our main medal hopes,” he said.
The national contingent comprising 64 athletes are targeting to bring home a total of seven medals regardless of colour.
Malaysia are taking part in six out of 19 sports - gymnastics, badminton, archery, athletics, swimming and taekwondo.
