Malaysia has a rich history at the Asian Games, scoring key wins in sports like squash, badminton, bowling, athletics, and karate. In fact, these sports are counted as Malaysia's top sports at the Asian Games, yielding the highest medal counts and podium finishes for the nation.
In this article, we will delve into the nation's top-performing sports and the athletes who have led Malaysia to dramatic wins, and the sports that Malaysian athletes will be competing in at the upcoming 2026 Asian Games.
Let us begin!
| Sport | Why It’s Popular / Successful for Malaysia | Notable Malaysian Athletes |
|---|---|---|
| Badminton | Malaysia has been one of Asia’s badminton powerhouses for decades and regularly wins medals at the Asian Games. | Lee Chong Wei; Lee Zii Jia; Aaron Chia; Soh Wooi Yik |
| Squash | One of Malaysia’s strongest Asian Games sports, especially in women’s singles and team events. | Nicol David; S. Sivasangari; Ng Eain Yow |
| Bowling | Malaysia has consistently earned Asian Games medals in bowling since the 1990s. | Shalin Zulkifli; Esther Cheah |
| Diving | Malaysian divers are regular medal contenders in Asia. | Pandelela Rinong; Nur Dhabitah Sabri |
| Sepak Takraw | A traditional Southeast Asian sport with strong Malaysian roots and regional popularity. | Farhan Adam |
| Track Cycling | Malaysia has developed elite Asian-level cyclists in sprint events. | Azizulhasni Awang; Muhammad Shah Firdaus Sahrom |
| Sailing | Malaysia has achieved strong Asian Games results in sailing classes. | Nur Shazrin Mohamad Latif |
| Wushu | Malaysia regularly earns medals in wushu competitions at the Asian Games. | Tan Cheong Min |
| Athletics | Historically important for Malaysia, especially sprinting. | Mani Jegathesan; Muhammad Azeem Fahmi |
🏸Squash: Dominance on the Court
Medal Achievements
Squash is one of the sports that has contributed the maximum gold medals to Malaysia’s overall tally at the Asian Games. At the last Asian Games held in Hangzhou, the squash team’s performance was exemplary, with Malaysia's Sivasankari and Eain Yow Ng winning two singles golds on the last day of the Asian Games.
The Malaysian squash team has been a dominant force at the Asian Games, securing 14 gold, 7 silver, and 10 bronze medals.
Notable Athletes
Malaysia’s squash dominance is anchored in its star player, Nicol David, who is considered the most successful Malaysian squash player of all time. Nicol David's first introduction to squash was at the tender age of 5, after which she began professional coaching at age 8. Her career began in 1992 when she won silver in the Under-14 category of the Penang State Junior Championship.
✅In the same year, she achieved her first national-level victory at the Milo-Dunlop Sport National Junior Interstate Championship, where she won silver in the Under-16 category.
✅She has won an astounding seven gold medals at the Games and holds the World No. 1 ranking for an unprecedented 108 consecutive months from 2006-2015.
It is a meaningful gold as it is my last Games outing. I am glad to deliver a gold to Malaysia. I knew it would be a tough final as Sivasangari had defeated two higher ranked opponents en route to the final.
Nicol David to New Strait Times on winning the gold medal at 2018 Asian Games
Following in Nicol’s footsteps are the current crop of squash players led by S. Sivasangari and Ng Eain Yow.
Sivasangari Subramaniam, currently ranked World no 5, knows how to deal with adversity and emerge from it successfully. She made a remarkable comeback at the 2023 Asian Games after surviving a life-threatening car crash that left her almost crippled. She returned to the court in February 2023, and later that year was given the country’s flag-bearing honours at the Asian Games, where she eventually went on to win both the individual and team gold.
In 2022, Sivasangari met with a life-threatening car accident that left her with severe spine, head and neck injuries, with doctors fearing she might never walk again. Despite the challenges, Sivasangari stayed determined throughout her recovery and returned to the court after a gap of six months.
Initially, it was difficult, but with perseverance and determination, she bounced back and went on to win 3 golds at the Asian Games in 2023.
I was flag bearer and now, to win two gold medals, it seems like a movie to me. I don’t think anyone would have expected me to win two gold medals after the last year-and-a-half. I started playing well only in maybe April or May but before that, I was really struggling. I had a lot of challenges to go through and I cannot believe this at the moment.
Sivasangari Subramaniam after winning the single's gold at 2023 Asian Games
Her other wins include:
- Silver in women’s singles at the 2018 Asian Games
- Bronze in the team event at the 2018 Asian Games
- Youngest Malaysian women’s national squash champion in 2018
- Won the 2018 British Junior Open title
It makes for a very interesting read to learn about the history of the Asian Games. Would you like to know more?
🏸Badminton: A Legacy of Excellence
Badminton is a source of national pride for Malaysians, with millions of Malaysians tuning in to watch their players compete in regional and international tournaments. Over the years, the sport has inspired generations of young athletes and remains one of the nation’s most successful international sporting disciplines.1
Early stars like Tan Aik Huang, Ooi Teik Hock, Teoh Seng Khoon and Ong Poh Lim, who famously pioneered the backhand flick serve, laid the foundation of Malaysia’s success in badminton. Later legends, such as Lee Chong Wei, elevated Malaysia into a global badminton powerhouse.
At the Asian Games, badminton has continued to bring glory for the country thanks to the brilliant players who have, over the years, given the country 7 gold, 8 silver, and 21 bronze medals. From team events to singles and doubles, Malaysian badminton stars have delivered unforgettable moments, earning accolades not only at the Asian Games but also in major tournaments worldwide.
Badminton has contributed 7 gold, 8 silver, and 21 bronze medals to Malaysia's Asian Games tally.
🥇Iconic Matches
🎉1962 Asian Games: Malaysia won its first-ever Asian Games badminton gold medal. Strong performances in the 1970 and 1990 Asian Games (Bangkok) helped establish Malaysia as one of Asia’s elite badminton nations.
🎉2006 Asian Games (Doha): Lee Chong Wei won the men’s singles gold medal, becoming one of Malaysia’s greatest badminton champions.
🎉2010 Asian Games (Guangzhou): Malaysia continued its medal-winning consistency, earning medals in doubles events.
Watch one of the most iconic matches ever between Lin Dan and Lee Chong Wei:
🎳Bowling: Strikes and Spares Leading to Gold
Medal Contributions
Bowling has become one of Malaysia’s guaranteed wins at the Asian Games, delivering a steady stream of medals. In fact, Malaysia has ranked among the top nations since bowling was introduced in 1978. Currently, it is third overall behind South Korea and Japan in the medals tally.
The nation’s dominance is best illustrated by legends such as Shalin Zulkifli, who collected nine medals across six editions, and Esther Cheah, with eight medals between 2006 and 2018. Their achievements have a lasting impression on the current team.
Team Dynamics
An important factor that has contributed to bowling's success is the strong grassroots development support the game receives in Malaysia. Grassroots support for bowling is provided by the Malaysian Tenpin Bowling Congress (MTBC), a national governing body entrusted with the development, regulation, and promotion of tenpin bowling in Malaysia.
MTBC works in close coordination with coaches, athletes, and government bodies to build a sustainable and inclusive bowling ecosystem.
Ably backed by a structured sports system, grassroots-level players receive attention and equal opportunities, ensuring a continuous talent pool, thereby ensuring Malaysia’s bowling team remains a formidable force in Asian Games and other international competitions.
With 12 gold, 13 silver, and 7 bronze medals, bowling stands as a significant contributor to Malaysia's medal count.
Don't forget to read up about the participation of Malaysia in different sports events during the previous Asian Games.
🏃Athletics: Sprinting Towards Glory
Track and Field Achievements
Malaysia has earned a decent enough record in athletics at the Asian Games, winning medals in sprints, hurdles, pole vault, and relays.
No discussion on athletics would be complete without talking about our very own Mani Jegathesan, famously known as the “Flying Man of Asia.” He created history at the 1962 Asian Games in Jakarta, where he became the first Malaysian athlete to win a gold medal at the Asian Games. Competing in the men’s 200m sprint title, he crossed the finish line in 21.3 seconds, going on to win the historic gold medal.
Again, in 1968, he set a record of 20.92s at the 1968 Mexico Olympics that remained unbroken for 49 long years. 18-year old national sprint king Khairul Hafiz Jantan broke his record at the 94th Malaysian Open Athletics Championships.
His memorable wins include:
- 1966 Asian Games (Bangkok): Captured three titles in 100m, 200m, and 4x100m relay.
- Olympics: First Malaysian to qualify for athletics semi-final at the Olympics (reaching the 200m semi-finals in 1964 and 1968).
In 1962, Mani Jegathesan won Malaysia’s very first Asian Games gold medal in the men’s 200m sprint title. This was Malaysia's first-ever gold in the Asian Games in any sport. He is also known as the "Flying Doctor" as he later became a medical doctor.
Record-Breaking Performances
Another standout athlete is Rabuan Pit, who brought glory to Malaysia in 1982 by winning the men’s 100m in New Delhi, the last athletics gold for Malaysia.
Azeem Fahmi is another young player who is recognised as the country's fastest sprinter. His wins include:
✅2023 Asian Games: bronze medal in the men's 100-meter event
✅Olympics: Debuted at the 2024 Paris Olympics
Here is a video of him at the Asian Athletics Championships in 2023:
Malaysian women have also made history and contributed to podium finishes.
✅Josephine Mary earned a bronze in the 800m in 1986 and later added one more in the relay in 1990.
✅Roslinda Samsu won a silver medal in the pole vault in 2006.
✅Noraseela Khalid added bronze in hurdles the same year.
✅Shereen Vallabouy won bronze in 2023.
While it is too early to predict, given the support athletics is receiving, it is hoped we will get a podium finish in the upcoming 2026 Asian Games.
👊Karate: Martial Arts Mastery
Medal Tally
Malaysia has built a proud karate legacy at the Asian Games, winning eight golds since 1998 and consistently producing champions across both kata and kumite. Its players have won even more medals at the SEA Games.
Early breakthroughs
Malaysia’s first karate golds came in 1998, Bangkok, when
✅C. Muralitharan won in the men’s kumite -55kg event and
✅R. Muniandy won in the men’s kumite -70kg event
Sustained dominance
At the 2002 Busan Games, R. Puvaneswaran won gold in men’s kumite -55kg, showing the 1988 win was not a one-off event. Puvaneswaran again repeated the feat at the 2010 Guangzhou Games, becoming one of Malaysia’s most decorated karatekas.
In the 2014 Incheon Games:
✅Lim Chee Wei won gold in men’s kata, while
✅Syakilla Salni Jefry Krisnan became the first Malaysian female karateka to win an Asian Games gold medal in the Women's Kumite -61 kg event.
This was one of Malaysia’s best karate performances until Hangzhou 2023.
Recent resurgence
✅At Hangzhou 2022, Muhammad Arif Afifuddin Ab Malik won men’s kumite -84kg, by beating his Kazakhstan opponent, Daniyar Yuldashev. This ended Malaysia’s nine-year karate gold drought, the last being Syakilla Salni Jefry Krisnan, who won the medal in 2014.
Reflecting on his win, Muhammad Arif said:
Alhamdulillah after so many years of being a professional karate athlete in the national team, God has given me my first Asian championship medal in the senior categories.
Muhammad Arif
✅Malaysia also secured two silvers in kata events, marking their strongest showing since 2014.
✅Anne Robberth Lovelly won silver for women’s individual kata, whereas the women’s team—consisting of Lovelly, Naccy Nelly Evvaferra binti Rojin, and Niathalia Sherawinnie Anak Yampil—won the silver medal for the women’s team kata.
Training and Discipline
Behind Malaysia’s karate success lies a rigorous training regimen supported by national sports bodies and private organisations.
Recent initiatives have also played a major role in developing karate from the grassroots and preparing athletes for major international tournaments.
1️⃣ The Malaysia Karate Federation (MAKAF) together with the National Sports Council (MSN) operates a national training camp comprising of approximately 25 elite athletes. Under national Head Coach Sharmendran Ragunathan ( former karate champion and four-time SEA Games gold medallist), karateka undergo intensive physical training alongside technical training to make them tournament-ready.
We currently have 25 athletes in the training camp – nine under the Podium Programme and 16 from the back-up squad. I want the seniors to motivate and inspire the juniors to reach their peak performance.
Sharmendran Ragunathan
Elite athletes are separated into the Podium Programme for senior medal prospects, while the back-up squad focuses on youth development.
2️⃣ MAKAF also launched a long-term development programme in 2023 aimed at preparing athletes for the 2026 Asian Games and the 2027 SEA Games.
3️⃣ Another key initiative is the Akademi Karate Malaysia (AKM), a collaboration between MAKAF and the National Sports Council (MSN) to discover and nurture young talents nationwide, while simultaneously helping local coaches.2
4️⃣MAKAF also runs regional talent programs to identify potential teenagers at the grassroots level who can go on to represent the country in international tournaments.
Given the continuous investment in talent development and elite training programmes, the country is well placed to maintain its status as one of Asia’s strongest karate nations.
Malaysia has earned a total of 31 medals--9 gold, 7 silver, and 16 bronze medals at the Asian Games.
🥋Emerging Sports: The Rise of Sepak Takraw
Sepak Takraw Achievements
Sepak Takraw is volleyball with a twist. Players use every part of their body to defend the ball except their hands, making the game a spectacular display of agility and dexterity.
As Malaysia’s national sport, Sepak Takraw is deeply embedded in Malaysian culture and has grown into one of the nation’s medals winning discipline, winning laurels for Malaysia.
Apart from dominating in the SEA Games, other key wins include:
- 2025 ISTAF World Cup: winning the 2025 ISTAF World Cup, successfully ending a 34-year title drought by defeating Thailand 2-1 to secure the gold.
- 2025 Asian Sepak Takraw Championships: Malaysia emerged as champions, winning the Men's Regu title by defeating Thailand in the finals
- 2026 Sepak Takraw World Cup: O May 19th 2026, the Malaysian national squad, led by team captain Amirul Zazwan, defeated India 2-0 to clinch their maiden World Cup trophy in the final of the 2026 Sepak Takraw World Cup
Malaysia has secured 4 gold, 10 silver, and 5 bronze medals in sepak takraw, showcasing the nation's growing strength in this traditional sport.
Muhammad Syahir Mohd Rosdi is widely regarded as the top Sepak Takraw player in Malaysia.
Malaysia's badminton Asian Games performance, sepak takraw Malaysia Asian Games performance or even the Malaysia squash Asian Games performance show the strength of its athletes and the nation’s dedication toa cheiveing excellent in the international sporting arena. These results have been possible because of rigorous training and structured development opportunities available to athletes.
Looking ahead, Malaysia can score even better with stronger grassroots programs, proper support systems and increased financial support to athletes, helping them excel at future Asian Games editions and beyond.
References
- Gomez, M. A., Leicht, A. S., Rivas, F., & Furley, P. (2020). Long rallies and next rally performances in elite men’s and women’s badminton. PLOS ONE, 15(3), e0229604. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0229604
- Wong, R. S. K., Thung, J. S., & Pieter, W. (2006, July 1). Mood and performance in young Malaysian karateka. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3863924/
Summarise with AI:
Did you like this article? Leave a rating!
Loading...