By V. Ashok

So, It’s 40. Is this figure enough to be happy? Sorry, this is about our Malaysian contingent’s gold medal target set for the 32nd SEA Games in Cambodia which officially begins today.

Over the past few days, many observers and sports critics voiced out their disagreement and kept asking: “Why so little. How come. Why not 60 or more.”

One thing for sure, our contingent can’t place any high hopes to become the overall champions as we need at least 100 or more to claim the crown.

As a host nation, Cambodia look’s daring, setting a 126 gold target after winning a paltry four and nine golds at the Philippines Games (2019) and Vietnam (2021).

Their confidence is growing after the host decided to include three traditional sports – Ouk Chaktrang (chess) and two martial arts Bokator and Kun Khmer. This events will give them a golden opportunity to snatch more medals.

The games powerhouse, Thailand and Vietnam are also hungry to chase the three digit mark and maintain their stronghold in every edition. Other two nations – Singapore and Indonesia may not reach the century but still can pose a big threat for a top 5 finish.

Our 40 gold medals, 37 silver and 64 bronze target count will be under the watchful eyes of the sports critics in the next 12 days of these region’s biennial multi-sports event which is dubbed as the mini-Asian Games.

The reason given for ‘why just 40 only’ is, our 440 athletes or 65 per cent of the total 676 are making their debut for this edition in Phnom Penh. So, to be fair, give some benefit of doubt to our young warriors here.

For a good start, our men football team showed their prowess beating Laos 5-1 in the Group B match, Wednesday, to ignite the spirit to end the 12-year drought of winning the ‘mother of all medals’.

In 2011, we beat host, Indonesia 4-3 through penalty kicks in the final.

We wish our athletes, coaches and officials good luck and to move on a positive note.

Remember, some miracles do happen and we might come back with bigger gold medals haul, surpassing the target. We have done it before on few occasions.

The best is to drop this debate or argument of gold medal chase from today. It’s the show time now as majority of our Malaysian spectators will be glued to their TV set at home or restaurants watching these regional games they loved for many decades.

For our strong followers, including the makcik selling nasi lemak or the paddy farmers in Kedah or Selangor, it will be about a gathering session with their friends, counting the gold medals, day by day with full excitement and hope.

I remembered during my school days, even our father and mother would join their children, supporting athletes or team, especially in track & field event, the show-piece of the Games and also football.

Badminton gold were like our own property once until Indonesia joined the competition after the 1975 edition. Prior to that it was called Southeast Asia Peninsular Games (SEAP Games).

What the rakyat would be more concerned is to see our contingent’s progress going for many golds. Some might not even know or bothered about medals target. On the event day, they will feel strong, our sportsmen and sportswomen can win. It’s about patriotism.

As the hours ticking away, it’s the moment for our young athletes to prove their worth after the sports authorities had provided them all the best training and overseas stint for a good build-up.

Today (Friday), the SEA Games begins with a lot of excitement for our Malaysian sports fans that brings back good memories.

It will be another important outing to gauge our overall achievement and prowess in the region, competing with the rest of our 11 neighbouring nations for the supremacy and glory.

Being the host for the first time, it will be Cambodia’s moment to produce their best ever performance and give back something nice to their people to cherish in their home soil.

The slogan: ‘Sport: Live in Peace’ was chosen to highlight how peace has been crucial for their remarkable transformation.

One male rabbit named ‘Borey’ and one female rabbit named ‘Rumduol’ was chosen as the mascot and will be greeting the guests, symbolising the welcoming and friendly atitude of Cambodians.

Just for a thought. Our medal target script has been almost the same over the last few editions. Here, the main objective for the 2023 Cambodia Games is to give exposure to young and back up athletes. Like her predecessor, the Youth and Sports Minister, Hannah Yeoh is said to have repeated along the similar lines.

At times, we wonder what this exposure means each time we compete in SEA Games. Yes, for the 65 per cent athletes mentioned earlier, it is a right platform to get ready for the next edition but the rest 35 per cent should try to snatch golds from their opponents.

After all, this is not Asian Games or the Olympics Games to be much feared. The standard and capabilities of all participating countries, especially Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and Singapore are almost on par with us. So, we are among the best here.

Winning a gold too would give a kick start for our athletes to be prepared mentally and physically for future competition like the coming Asian Games in Hangzhou, China in September which was postponed due to Covid-19 in 2022.

In short, our winning habit should start right away in Cambodia SEA Games, especially from athletes who had tasted challenges and experience in Hanoi, last year. It’s all about getting prepared to handle pressure and to stand tall on the podium finish as medal winners. Yes, sports is all about pressure and if we can’t take it, then better don’t be there.

Sports analyst, Dr. Pekan Ramli recently opined that setting a 40 golds target is just to be on the safe side. At the same time the aim to be the best overall is not in our target list.

“Its like telling our athlete to sit for an exam and just to pass,” he told ApaKhabarTV, recently.

“We can read along the lines. Logically, based on 40 golds, we will be placed as number 4 or 6 in the overall medal standing, just like how it was achieved in the previous games.”

Pekan also added, we have to be really committed for golds if want to compete in SEA Games and try not to waste government fund by sending many athletes if they can’t meet the expectation.

He also heaped praised on the host, showing confidence to win 126 gold medals after just recording four and nine golds in the last two editions.

“Regional powers like Thailand and Vietnam will be chasing for 164 and 100 golds. Look’s like these two nations has a brave heart,” he chided.

On the other note, like it or not, the magical element of the SEA Games can’t be taken away.

Every two years, our Malaysian fans starts recalling the past glory and success of our star athletes, both male dan female. A handful of them not only won the gold medal once but went on to dominate the stage in their respective event at the next few editions.

The history of the games won’t be complete without mentioning our swimming legend, Nurul Huda Abdullah who won a record breaking 22 gold medals at three SEA Games (from 1985-1989) before retiring from the scene with a lasting impression till today.

For her tireless effort winning gold medals for the nation, she was awarded the Malaysian Sportswoman of the Year for five consecutive years from 1985 to 1989. As a special reward she was made the Deputy Chef-de-Mission for the Malaysian Contingent to the 30th SEA Games (2019) in Philippines.

The list of glorious moment is not over.

Another athlete that came quite close to equalling or breaking Nurul’s record was our former women diving sensation, Leong Mun Yee. The Ipoh born champion won 17 golds from 1999 till 2017 before retiring onJanuary 2022.

Daniel Bego (swimming) was the third best with 11 golds while former badminton queen, Rosalind Singha Ang and Yeoh Ken Nee (diving) won 10 each.

Others like Marina Chin, Ishtiaq Mubarak, Mani Jegathesan, Nashatar Singh, Nur Herman Majid, Gladys Chai, Zaki Sadri (athletics) may have won lesser but were still remains the star attraction for the Malaysian die-hard fans in the 70, 80 and 90s.

During that golden era, athletics were the most popular sports after football, apart from badminton, cycling and sepak takraw.

How can we forget the likes of late Mokhtar Dahari or ‘Super Mokh’ for his gifted dazzling skill and powerful sprints which was a constant threat to our rivals on the pitch.

The legend helped our national team to win gold at the 1977 edition in Kuala Lumpur and repeated his magical moment again – this time scoring the winning goal beating host, Indonesia 1-0 to defend our title on September 30, 1979 at Istora Senayan Stadium, Jakarta.

Our humble wish is to see our athletes selected for the 2023 edition to shine and become a new stars in Phnom Penh. That would truly be a magical moment for us. Its all about belief.

Majulah sukan untuk negara!