KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian sports fans are up in arms over the axing of several sports, including badminton, from the 2026 Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
Many of them have expressed their ire on social media.
Glasgow, which stepped in at the last minute as host for the 2026 games, has decided to have only 10 sports, a move which will substantially diminish Malaysia's medal hopes.
Among the 10 disciplines dropped are badminton, diving, squash, rhythmic gymnastics and table tennis.
"Why did Malaysia not host it in the same manner (only sports we can win), cause we are too sporting, unlike the West," Ting Chooi Chin posted on social media.
"All Asian countries should boycott the Commonwealth Games 2026 if they exclude BADMINTON which is mainly conquered by China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan, South Korea and a few others," wrote Gunaseharan Karupiah.
However, there are sports fans who believe it is time for Malaysia to focus on other sports, not just the regular ones.
"Should view this as a positive move rather than relying too much on the few regular ones. Time to focus on others which may bring in more golds and even Olympic golds," said Papamia Tham.
"Time to build up other sports for Malaysians," said Yeoh Boo Leong.
Earlier today, Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh said Malaysia are expected to "lose" 16 medals at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games following the axing of several sports.
But she stressed that there are still other events that Malaysia could focus on to win gold in the quadrennial games.
"After yesterday's announcement, a preliminary forecast shows that Malaysia will lose 16 medals from the dropped sports. But we respect (the organiser's decision). This is the prerogative of the organiser, every organiser is given the flexibility to choose the sports.
"But we have sports with potential (of winning medals) like weightlifting and lawn bowls, so we do have the advantage," she said after the launch of the 2024 ISNext Programme at the National Sports Institute in Bukit Jalil.
Meanwhile, sports observer Sadek Mustafa pointed out that Malaysia has for, too long, depended on the same sports to deliver medals at multi-sport games, including the Commonwealth Games, and now finds itself at a big disadvantage when those sports are no longer included.
Sadek said Malaysia should focus on individual events that are main Olympic sports such as athletics and swimming which offer greater "value for money" compared to team sports.
The Universiti Teknologi Mara Sports and Recreation Faculty senior lecturer added that Malaysia should not bother to appeal to have the dropped sports reinstated.
"We should learn from what has happened now. There was no emphasis on expanding the scope of sports we can rely on at multi-sport games and we are now paying the price," said Sadek.
"Traditional Olympic sports such as swimming and athletics offer so many medals but we have lost focus in these sports over the years and subsequently our athletes have failed to excel in them.
"We have to accept the fact that we are not the host of the 2026 games, we can't afford to host it. We have to accept the sports and the rules that have been laid out by the organiser (Glasgow) and focus on preparing our athletes for these 10 sports."