KUALA LUMPUR: Let's be honest — Malaysian badminton fell short of expectations in 2024.
The results of "Project 24", the ambitious blueprint launched in 2019 by the BA of Malaysia (BAM), speak volumes.
Its goal was clear — to win Malaysia's first Olympic gold medal in badminton at Paris 2024. That dream remains unfulfilled.
Instead, Malaysia returned from Paris with two bronze medals, courtesy of Lee Zii Jia and Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik.
While these medals are commendable, they fall short of expectations for a nation that has historically clinched silvers and yearned for gold.
The harsh truth is that BAM aimed high but landed low.
The Thomas Cup campaign in Chengdu, China, mirrored the Olympic disappointment. BAM had set its sights on a place in the final, but the team faltered in the semi-finals, missing another target.
Yet, 2024 wasn't all doom and gloom. The second half of the year offered genuine bright spots, with individual performances suggesting a more promising future as we enter 2025.
When Paris 2024 seemed destined to become Malaysia's first medal-less Olympics in badminton, Zii Jia and Aaron-Wooi Yik stepped up.
Aaron-Wooi Yik's bronze medal match was a thriller, as they saved four match points to edge Denmark's Kim Astrup-Anders Skaarup Rasmussen 16-21, 22-20, 21-19.
Zii Jia followed suit with a gritty comeback, overcoming a game down and an 8-3 deficit to defeat India's Lakshya Sen 13-21, 21-16, 21-11.
Although Malaysia's 32-year Thomas Cup drought continued, 2024 marked a breakthrough with the team's first semi-final appearance since 2016.
A 3-1 victory over Japan showcased the squad's potential, though eventual champions China halted their run with the same scoreline.
Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani were standout performers, providing a glimpse of their later success.
After years of inconsistency, Sze Fei-Izzuddin silenced their critics in 2024.
Their decision to leave the national setup paid off handsomely, with three World Tour titles (Japan Open, China Open, Arctic Open) and a runners-up finish at the World Tour Finals propelling them to world No. 3.
Once labeled underachievers, they have now established themselves as Malaysia's top men's doubles pair.
In mixed doubles, Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei finally broke through against top-tier opponents in 2024.
Their highlight was a stunning victory over Olympic favourites Feng Yan Zhe-Huang Dong Ping in Paris.
While their Olympic campaign ended in the quarter-finals, the win sparked a remarkable run that included the Korea Open title and a runners-up finish at the World Tour Finals.
Their rise to world No. 6 consolidated their place among badminton's elite mixed doubles pairs.
Malaysia closed out 2024 with a stronger global presence in badminton — a significant improvement from 2023.
Malaysian shuttlers are now prominent in four of the five disciplines: Zii Jia (No. 6) in men's singles, Sze Fei-Izzuddin (No. 3) and Aaron-Wooi Yik (No. 6) in men's doubles, Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah (No. 6) in women's doubles, and Tang Jie-Ee Wei (No. 6) alongside Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai (No. 7) in mixed doubles.
The trophy count tells a similar story of progress. Malaysian players claimed 11 BWF titles in 2024, up from seven the previous year.
Notably, eight of these victories came from prestigious Super 500 tournaments and above, compared to just two in 2023.
Malaysian pairs also made their mark in Super 1000 events.
Beyond Sze Fei-Izzuddin's triumph at the China Open, there were notable final appearances — Aaron-Wooi Yik at the All England, Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun at the Indonesia Open, and Soon Huat-Shevon at the China Open.
After a dismal 2023 for the up-and-coming shuttlers that saw Datuk Misbun Sidek's departure as national junior squad chief, Malaysia stormed back to prominence in major junior championships in 2024.
The resurgence peaked at the World Junior Championships in Nanchang, China, where Aaron Tai=Kang Khai Xing ended Malaysia's title drought with a thrilling boys' doubles victory over China's Hu Ke Yuan-Lin Xiang Yi — the same pair that denied them the Asian Junior gold earlier in Yogyakarta.
Dania Sofea Zaidi-Low Zi Yu added to the success with a surprise silver medal run.
Team performances also improved, with Malaysia securing bronze medals in both the Asian and World Junior Championships, signaling a revival for the next generation.