KUALA LUMPUR: As the curtain fell on the Paris Olympics on Sunday, Malaysia's 26-member contingent returned home with two bronze medals, earned through the relentless efforts of Lee Zii Jia and Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik.
While these achievements offer moments of pride, they also cast a stark light on the broader challenges facing Malaysian sports.
Despite significant financial investment under Budget 2024 — including RM72 million allocated to the Podium Programme and the Road to Gold (RTG) initiative — the nation's dream of winning its first Olympic gold medal remains elusive.
The Paris Olympics were supposed to be a turning point, the moment when Malaysia would finally break through the gold medal barrier.
However, the results tell a different story.
Aside from the badminton squad, many athletes struggled on the world's biggest stage, their efforts overshadowed by the enormity of the occasion.
Take the case of Azizulhasni Awang, whose disqualification from the men's keirin due to a "technical mistake" highlighted the razor-thin margins at the elite level.
At 36, Azizulhasni's hunger and desire to pedal on to achieve the elusive gold medal did not materialise in Paris.
Yet, the public must always remember that he put Malaysia on the world's cycling map with his previous efforts, including winning a world title and producing two Olympic medals.
In Paris, it was just not meant to be.
Meanwhile, potential medallists like Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah in badminton, Aniq Kasdan in weightlifting and cyclist Shah Firdaus Sahrom were all unlucky to miss out on the podium despite their best efforts.
For the rest, Paris was more about collecting Olympic pins and gaining experience than seriously contending for medals.
The time has come for Malaysia to rethink their approach to sports.
To build a competitive sporting nation, Malaysia must look beyond short-term fixes, and instead focus on the entire ecosystem that supports athletes' development.
This begins in schools, where talent identification and nurturing need to be prioritised and improved.
Too often, promising athletes are lost in a system that fails to balance academic and athletic pursuits.
The Youth and Sports Ministry, and the Education Ministry must come up with win-win solutions to tap talents.
A more integrated approach, with quality coaching and dedicated sports programmes, could help ensure that talent is developed from a young age.
While urban centres may boast modern sports complexes, many rural areas often lack even basic amenities. Access to quality facilities is a fundamental requirement for nurturing future champions.
To achieve this, public-private partnerships could be key, with both sectors contributing to a nationwide upgrade of sports infrastructure.
Malaysia must also confront a cultural challenge - the celebration of mediocrity.
Too often, we settle for 'good enough' rather than striving for excellence.
This mindset can seep into the psyche of athletes, leading to complacency and a lack of competitive edge.
If Malaysia are to produce more world-class athletes, we must foster a high-performance culture that demands and rewards excellence.
Programmes like the Podium Programme and RTG have done much to support our athletes, but they need to be more than just funding mechanisms.
These initiatives should be fine-tuned to provide targeted support, ensuring that athletes with genuine medal potential receive the personalised training and international competition exposure they need to succeed.
Mental conditioning, too, must be prioritised, helping athletes develop the resilience required to perform under the immense pressure of the Olympic spotlight.
Looking ahead, it is clear that Malaysia needs a long-term vision for sports, one that extends beyond the immediate goal of winning an Olympic gold medal.
This vision should include the holistic development of athletes, with a focus on long-term success rather than quick wins.
Engagement with the public is also crucial.
Sports should be a national passion, with grassroots participation encouraged and celebrated.
A sporting nation is one where every child dreams of Olympic glory, and every citizen takes pride in the achievements of their athletes.
Moreover, Malaysia should stop relying on badminton and a few capable athletes for medals at the Olympics.
The focus should expand to include new Olympic sports such as surfing, skateboarding, and sport climbing.
Who knows, a skateboarder or a surfer could win Malaysia's first Olympic gold medal at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
However, to achieve this, we must start now and invest more in identifying and grooming athletes in these emerging disciplines.
The Paris Olympics may not have delivered the golden breakthrough Malaysia hoped for, but they offer an invaluable opportunity to reassess and revitalise our approach to sports.
By rethinking our strategies, investing in the right areas, and fostering a culture of excellence, Malaysia can set themselves on a path to not only winning their first Olympic gold but also establishing themselves as a sporting powerhouse on the world stage.
* Ajitpal Singh is the Sports Editor of NST