WITH about 10 weeks remaining until the Paris Olympics kickoff, it's rather unprecedented that some Malaysian athletes have boldly targeted gold medals.
For the record, no Malaysian has ever won an Olympic title, and the wait could end in Paris.
However, considering the amount of money spent on developing sports in the country, it's about time for Malaysia to produce an Olympic champion.
Regional rivals, Thailand (10 gold) Indonesia (eight), Vietnam (one), the Philippines (one) and Singapore (one) have reached the Promised Land by producing Olympic gold medallists, putting Malaysia to shame.
Now, Malaysian athletes must fight and create history in Paris.
However, the Paris Olympics could either be memorable or forgettable for Malaysian sports.
Cyclist Azizulhasni Awang, men's singles shuttler Lee Zii Jia and doubles pair Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik have stated their intention to win Malaysia's first Olympic gold in Paris.
Azizulhasni is not getting any younger and Zii Jia is inconsistent while Aaron-Wooi Yik have the tendency to crack under pressure despite being the most consistent Malaysian elite athletes today.
Unless these athletes can iron out their weaknesses, it would be a touch-and-go affair in Paris.
It is a matter of how the powers-that-be assist them in their quest to shine.
Azizulhasni will become the first Malaysian male to compete in five Olympic editions when he arrives with his new aerodynamic bike in Paris, bidding to finally land a gold medal in the keirin.
The Pocket Rocketman won Malaysia's first Olympic cycling medal, a bronze in keirin, at Rio 2016, and followed up with silver in the same event at the delayed Tokyo Games in 2021.
At 36, many would question whether he has the legs to finish on the podium again, especially considering he underwent heart surgery two years ago.
However, the Dungun-born cyclist declared, through the Malaysian National Cycling Federation, that he is in good shape and aims to end his Olympic campaign with a gold medal.
World No. 10 Zii Jia, a controversial figure in Malaysian badminton, has also declared his intention to turn the tables on the favourites and win gold in Paris.
Zii Jia undoubtedly has talent, but his performance is unpredictable. On his day, he can beat anyone, but his game can easily collapse on his off day.
If Zii Jia can work on his consistency and tighten his game, the professional shuttler will be the one to beat.
In men's singles, world No. 1 and defending champion Viktor Axelsen, his Danish compatriot Anders Antonsen, along with Indonesia's Jonatan Christie and China's Shi Yu Qi, are the favourites for the Olympic title.
After winning bronze at the Tokyo Games, Aaron-Wooi Yik became Malaysia's first world champions in badminton in 2022.
The men's doubles competition will be unpredictable in Paris, as any of the top 10 pairs in the world will have a chance at the Olympic gold.
With these athletes declaring their gold medal bids, the Paris Games stand to be the most memorable for Malaysia, though the country will have one of its smallest contingents in recent times at the Olympics.
So far, 18 athletes, including from badminton, cycling, diving, archery, weightlifting, sailing and shooting, have qualified on merit for the Games.
Fans should not discount weightlifter Aniq Kasdan, who could serve a surprise in the men's Under-61kg event.
However, it's always unpredictable at the Olympics, and nothing is guaranteed for Malaysia in Paris.
In fact, Malaysia are at risk of returning empty-handed for the first time since Athens 2004.
The Olympic Council of Malaysia believes the country stands a chance of earning a few more spots in archery, athletics, swimming, and diving on merit or through wild cards.
But the question is whether the sports authorities, including the Youth and Sports Ministry, would be bold enough, like some of the Malaysian athletes, to set a gold medal target for the Paris Olympics.
They might want to be cautious and set a medal of any colour target, like for last year's Hangzhou Asian Games, instead of going for broke.
Anyway, it's the athletes who are competing, not the officials.
The most crucial factor is that these athletes are provided with the best facilities, including sports science, experienced coaches and support staff to make a strong presence in Paris, not merely making up the numbers.
For some athletes, being on the podium in Paris would be a distant dream.
Their only hope is to set a new national record or a personal best. What's important is that these athletes make it memorable for themselves, whether they win a medal or not.
While the landscape of Malaysian sports has not been too promising, a great outing in Paris will dispel doubts.
Sports are often utilised to spread the feel-good factor, providing people with a temporary escape from personal and economic issues.
However, what if the Paris Olympics turn out to be forgettable for Malaysia?
Ajitpal Singh is the Sports Editor of NST