13 hours Ago
THERE’S always light at the end of the tunnel. We saw it this week when, after a slump, former men’s doubles world champions Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik sprang back. The pair resurrected their careers by winning the Asian Championships title in Ningbo, China on Sunday, ending an 18-year wait for the title.
The last Malaysian pair were their seniors Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah in 2007. It was an important win, as it helped Aaron-Wooi Yik regain their confidence and self-belief that has been lacking since they won the bronze medal at the Paris Olympic Games in August last year. First, Wooi Yik suffered a toe fracture that required attention.
After that, Aaron had to deal with a nagging shoulder injury, which saw them losing tamely at the All-England in Birmingham last month. However, Aaron and Wooi Yik showed that they can be depended on by beating several top players to win at the Asian meet - and a lot of it was due to their new coach Herry Iman Pierngadi of Indonesia. Pak Herry must have weaved some of his magic as the players looked physically solid.
More importantly, they played courageously and confidently. Aaron and Wooi Yik have much more to offer to Malaysia, and we can look forward to a great year from them - especially with the World Championships up next in Paris in August. That pair was not the only good news.
Mixed doubles players Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei have also decided to make up and play again. What a relief it must be for coach Nova Widianto, who had orchestrated their meteoric rise since the start of 2023. It’s good that the world No.
3 pair listened to advice from many and decided to put aside their differences. That shows a forgiving character and humility. They have put the interest of the nation above themselves - and that will surely take them far.
Tang Jie-Ee Wei will still play with the back-up players for three tournaments before their reunion at the Singapore Open in May. Hopefully, the brief break will ensure that they come back refreshed. The pair are listed among the athletes under the Road to Gold (RTG) programme, and they will get perks as the top mixed pair in the country.
What is more important, though, is that they keep their Olympics dream burning. Tang Jie-Ee Wei and Aaron-Wooi Yik were among 13 shuttlers named under the RTG this week. The programme even offered world No.
7 men’s singles shuttler Lee Zii Jia a place although he had turned it down before. Will Zii Jia change his mind and give RTG a shot this time? Even former great Datuk Lee Chong Wei wants him in - as there is fear that Zii Jia may sink into oblivion if he continues to stand on his own. The others in the RTG list are cyclists Mohd Shah Firdaus Sahrom and Nurul Izzah Izzati Mohd Asri; and weightlifter Mohd Aniq Kasdan - all ranked in the top 10 bracket in the world.
Finally, the RTG programme has mapped out a four-year plan for the Los Angeles Olympics - giving clearer directions. There are still some lingering questions on how the RTG and also the Fast Track programme (for athletes ranked top 20 in the world or those below 25 years old) will be implemented and monitored. What if an athlete drops out of the top 10 ranking due to a combination of factors, but still has potential? Will he or she be axed? Will that not disrupt the athletes’ plan? We will know when we cross the bridge.
But in the optimism, there was also sadness. The plight of former national walker G. Saravanan, who did the country proud by winning the 50km walk gold at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, has hit the headlines.
He was hailed as a national hero back then but now, the 55-year-old has been floored by Motor Neurone Disease (MND). But Saravanan can take heart that he is not alone and abandoned. Overwhelming support has poured in for him from fellow athletes and the public.
That’s the beauty of Malaysians - whenever one is down, there will be an army of people waiting to help and encourage. It is good deeds like these that keeps one going. We hope Saravanan will brave through his difficult condition, and be an inspiration for many.
There is always hope. As Desmond Tutu once said: “Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all the darkness.”.
