As 2016 comes to a close, we look back at some stories that inspired us as well as some that gave us the blues.
PETALING JAYA: The past year has been one of mixed fortunes in the world of sports. We Malaysians have much to be proud of when we consider our international achievements, but there were also some developments that got us down.
Here are 10 sporting highlights – both good news and bad news – for 2016:
1. Paralympians now the gold standard
Malaysia’s first ever gold medal was achieved in Rio, but not at the Olympics. Instead it came at the Paralympics. Our paralympians brought home three gold medals and a bronze in September.
It was the best achievement by Malaysia at the Paralympics since the country first participated in the 1972 games in Munich.
2. Record haul at Rio 2016
Our athletes did shine at the Rio Olympics too. The Malaysian contingent made a record haul of four silver medals and one bronze.
Badminton brought in the lion’s share, giving us three silvers. It was the first time that Malaysia had three finalists – men’s singles, men’s doubles and mixed doubles.
The other silver was won in the diving pool while the bronze was won in cycling.
3. Thanks for nothing
After having won the Olympic bronze, cyclist Azizulhasni Awang took a swipe at Terengganu Menteri Besar Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman, sarcastically thanking the latter for refusing to buy “Roadbike” bicycles for him and fellow Olympian Fatehah Mustapa.
Azizul met up with the MB after his return and it was an amicable meeting.
4. End of the road for Sepang F1
Malaysia announced that next year’s Formula One grand prix will be the last in the country, for now at least.
The reason given by the government for not renewing the contract with the F1 organisers was that the cost was getting more prohibitive. It was reported that about RM300 million had been spent every year.
5. Rohingya and football
The cabinet decided to let the national team, Harimau Malaya, continue to play in Yangon in the AFF Suzuki Cup, even after many Malaysians had condemned their continued participation in light of the persecution of the Rohingya in Myanmar’s Rakhine state.
Malaysia were eliminated from the competition after losing 1-0 to the host nation and returned home early. It was the first time since 2006 that our team couldn’t even reach the semi-finals.
6. FAM in disarray
With FAM president Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah announcing his intention to step down in 2017, there has been a lot of speculation over who will succeed him. Among the names that have been mentioned are the Tunku Mahkota of Johor, AirAsia group CEO Tony Fernandes, FAM integrity committee chairman Aseh Che Mat, and a former president of the Kelantan football association, Annuar Musa.
7. A most rewarding freekick
Penang footballer Mohd Faiz Subri was shortlisted, along with the likes of Lionel Messi and Neymar, for the annual FIFA Puskas award for Best Goal. The honour came for his amazing freekick goal in a Malaysian league match late last year.
He received a RM15,000 cash gift from the Tunku Mahkota of Johor.
8. RM16 million, 35 conditions
The founder of the Vida Beauty franchise transformed the look of the Kelantan football club with her promise of up to RM16 million in cash sponsorship of the team. She attached 35 conditions, one of which was that the colour of the team’s jersey had to be pink.
But the relationship didn’t last long because the funds apparently dried up and, as she said, Kelantan didn’t perform well enough.
9. Peanuts for junior cyclists
The opening race in the Junior Cycling Malaysia series came under heavy criticism after participants were photographed being handed mock cheques with the amount written being RM30, RM20 and RM10 for first, second and third prizes in the below-11 age category.
Even Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin weighed in, saying that the programme was meant to inculcate the sporting spirit in the young and not to reward and spoil them.
10. Top biker
Khairul Idham Pawi made history when he became the first Malaysian to win a race in the Moto3 category of the World MotoGP series. And he did it twice, winning in Argentina and Germany.
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