Malaysians have every right to celebrate as Tuesday was an awesome day for Malaysian sports at the Rio Olympic Games.
Cyclist Azizulhasni Awang added to the national medal tally by winning a bronze medal in the men’s kerin event at the Olympic Velodrome.
The win didn’t come easy for the 28-year-old, though. He survived a nerve-wrecking final as the race had to be restarted twice and despite leading from the front, he was eventually boxed in and had to fight hard to get in front.
“I thought I had won the silver but when it was shown that I won bronze, I wasn’t disappointed.
“I gave it my best and I dedicate the bronze to all Malaysians. They have supported me since I was young and I hope I have repaid their faith in me,” Azizulhasni told The New Straits Times.
Britain’s Jason Kenny won the gold medal while the silver medal went to Netherland’s Matthijs Buchli.
In badminton, Goh V Shem and Tan Wee Kiong gave Malaysians more reason to celebrate as they are through to the Rio Olympics men’s doubles final.
The pair took a tiring 64 minutes to defeat China’s Chai Biao-Hong Wei 21-18, 12-21, 21-17 in the semi-final.
With the win, Goh and Tan became the first Malaysian pair to qualify for the Olympics final since badminton legends Cheah Soon Kit-Yap Kim Hock won the silver medal in the 1996 Atlanta Games.
“It is an amazing feeling. We wanted this so badly and I am so happy that we made the final.
“We made some mistakes, especially in the second game, but our determination to make the final was strong,” Tan was quoted by The New Straits Times as saying.
After a long and hard fought journey, you can bet that the shuttlers are going all out for gold.
“We have secured a medal but that is not enough. We are going for gold,” Goh told the daily.
The pair will play either China’s Fu Haifeng-Zhang Nan or Great Britain’s Marcus Ellis-Chris Langridge in the final on Friday.
