The Asian Games test that could make or break Malaysian sports

KUALA LUMPUR: From defending champions and seasoned medallists to rising names seeking their breakthrough, the Malaysian contingent face a critical test at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, where athletes across six sports aim to turn promise into podium finishes.

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DIVING

The national divers will begin a new chapter, with veteran Pandelela Rinong providing experience as a younger generation takes on greater responsibility.

Pandelela, who won two bronze medals at the 2022 Hangzhou edition, remains the only squad member with multiple Asian Games medals and will compete in the women's 10m platform.

She will be joined by debutante Nur Eilisha Rania Abrar Raj, who will contest the 10m platform individual and synchro events, while Yong Rui Jie makes his first appearance in the men's 3m springboard.

The men's squad also features Bertrand Rhodict Lises, Elvis Priestly Clement, Enrique Maccartney Harold, Syafiq Puteh and Nurqayyum Nazmi Nazim.

Bertrand will compete in the 10m platform individual event, while Elvis and Enrique form the platform synchro pairing.

Syafiq and Nurqayyum will contest the 3m springboard individual and synchro events.

National coach Ooi Tze Liang said Pandelela's experience can positively influence the younger divers as they prepare in China until Sept 22.

The divers won one silver and four bronze medals at Hangzhou.

EQUESTRIAN

Malaysia will rely on international experience in equestrian, with Diani Lee and N. Shoorendran leading the charge in dressage and jumping respectively.

Diani, a former Asian Games medallist, returns to the continental stage with a record of success stretching back two decades.

She was part of the team that won silver at the 2006 Doha edition before helping the country take bronze at the 2010 Guangzhou Games.

The dressage rider also claimed team gold at the 2007 SEA Games in Nakhon Ratchasima and a junior/young rider team bronze at last year's SEA Games in Pattaya on Sam 1108.

Shoorendran will compete in jumping after making the individual final at the Hangzhou Asian Games, where he finished 12th with Wanskjaers Cuneo.

He also won team silver at the 2025 SEA Games on Verena Mb Z and finished 13th individually.

With 28 victories on the FEI circuit, Shoorendran brings considerable experience to Japan.

Their campaigns come as Malaysia seek to build on their rich equestrian tradition, highlighted by Qabil Ambak Fathil's individual dressage gold at Hangzhou.

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HOCKEY

The pressure will be on the Speedy Tigers to deliver after their disappointing World Cup campaign.

The Malaysian Hockey Confederation has set a target of reaching the final, with the champions qualifying for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Malaysia finished last among the 16 teams at the World Cup in Belgium and the Netherlands, recording two draws and four defeats, and have since slipped to 15th in the world rankings.

Coach Brendon Carolan wants his side to top Group B as Malaysia target a place in the final.

Malaysia open against Uzbekistan on Sunday, followed by Oman (Sept 22), Thailand (Sept 24), Pakistan (Sept 26) and China (Sept 28).

The Speedy Tigresses have been set a semi-final target after finishing fifth overall at the Hangzhou edition.

CR Kumar's side is in Group A with defending champions China, South Korea, Kazakhstan, Taiwan and Bangladesh.

The team open against Kazakhstan tomorrow, followed by Bangladesh (Sept 21), China (Sept 23), Taiwan (Sept 25) and South Korea (Sept 27).

Kumar said Malaysia must beat either China or South Korea to reach the last four.

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KARATE

The karate team will carry the expectation of another gold, but without the athlete who delivered the top prize at the previous edition.

Arif Affifudin Malik, who won the men's kumite under-84kg gold at Hangzhou, is out through injury and will not defend his title.

His absence leaves Malaysia without an established gold-medal favourite, but the national team believe there is enough strength in the squad to produce another breakthrough.

The Malaysian Karate Federation has set a target of at least one gold medal, with five kumite athletes — K. Thevendran, H. Sureeya Sankar, C. Shahmalarani, Zakiah Adnan and Adeola Fay Robert — carrying the main challenge.

The men's kata team comprise Haznil Henry, Aiqal Asmadie and Mukhriz Mazlan.

At Hangzhou, the squad won one gold and two silver medals, finishing fourth overall among 25 nations.

Arif's success in Hangzhou showed that Malaysia need not rely on an obvious favourite, as he defeated Kazakhstan's Daniyar Yuldashev to claim the title.

The challenge in Aichi-Nagoya will be to maintain that medal-winning momentum.

WEIGHTLIFTING

Commonwealth Games champions Syahmi Nor Ghazali and Erry Hidayat will carry Malaysia's weightlifting challenge, but their Glasgow success will count for little against a far tougher Asian field.

Syahmi won the men's 94kg gold with a 347kg total (150kg snatch, 197kg clean and jerk), while Erry took the 79kg title with 331kg (147kg snatch, 184kg clean and jerk).

Their Commonwealth triumphs put them in the spotlight following the absence of Glasgow 60kg champion Aniq Kasdan, who opted to skip the Asian Games to focus on his 2028 Los Angeles qualification campaign.

Aniq is preparing for the World Championships in Ningbo, China, from Oct 27-Nov 8 before competing at the first International Weightlifting Federation Olympic qualifier in Doha from Dec 7-16.

With the 60kg category no longer part of the LA28 programme, Aniq has shifted his focus to building strength and accumulating qualifying points in the 65kg category.

For Syahmi and Erry, the Asian Games represent a different proposition, with China and other established nations expected to provide a tougher test.

The Malaysian weightlifters topped the Glasgow medal table with five golds, one silver and one bronze, but the pair now face the challenge of translating that success to the Asian stage.

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WUSHU

Malaysia are targeting two medals in wushu, with world champion Tan Cheong Min leading a seven-member squad.

Cheong Min, who won silver in the women's nanquan-nandao event at Hangzhou, will be among Malaysia's strongest medal hopes after being named flagbearer.

The 28-year-old said the honour provided additional motivation as she targets another podium finish.

The Wushu Federation of Malaysia (WFM) has assembled a balanced squad of newcomers and experienced athletes to challenge for medals.

Besides Cheong Min, the team feature Danish Aizad (men's changquan), Clement Ting Su Wei (men's daoshu-gunshu), Loh Ying Ting and Lee Jia Rong (women's changquan), Pang Pui Yee (women's jianshu-qiangshu) and Mandy Cebelle Chen (women's taijiquan-taijijian).

WFM president Datuk Chong Kim Fatt said the squad were in good condition following a two-month training stint in China.

At Hangzhou, Cheong Min was Malaysia's sole wushu medallist, making her quest for another podium finish one of the key storylines in Japan.