Malaysia has been participating in the Asian Games since 1954 and has steadily built a strong presence in games like squash, badminton, track and field events, diving and sepak takraw. Over the decades, Malaysian players have delivered memorable wins that have made them a force to reckon with.
In a few months, our athletes will fly to Japan to compete in the 20th Asian Games set to be held in the city of Nagoya and Aichi prefecture. Ahead of the Games, it is fitting we take a look at some famous Malaysian sports legends and the enduring impact they have left on aspiring players.
Athlete
Sport
Asian Games Medal Tally
Notable Accomplishments
Nicol David
Squash
7 Gold, 1 Silver, 1 Bronze (9 total)
Malaysia’s most successful Asian Games athlete; former world no. 1 in squash.
Shalin Zulkifli
Bowling
4 Gold, 3 Silver, 2 Bronze (9 total)
One of Asia’s greatest bowlers; first Malaysian to win medals at six Asian Games editions.
Manikavasagam Jegathesan
Athletics
4 Gold, 2 Silver, 1 Bronze (7 total)
Known as the 'Flying Doctor of Malaysia'; dominant Asian sprinter in the 1960s.
Ng Boon Bee
Badminton
4 Gold, 1 Silver, 2 Bronze (7 total)
Legendary doubles badminton player and one of Malaysia’s earliest Asian Games stars.
Pandelela Rinong
Diving
Multiple Silver and Bronze medals
Malaysia’s pioneering Olympic medal-winning diver and regional diving icon.
Lee Chong Wei
Badminton
3 Silver, 1 Bronze
Former world no. 1 badminton player; among Malaysia’s greatest sporting legends.
Azlan Iskandar
Squash
2 Gold, 2 Silver, 2 Bronze (6 total)
Helped Malaysia dominate squash in Asia during the 2000s.
Fatehah Mustapa
Cycling
2 Gold, 1 Silver, 1 Bronze
One of Malaysia’s top track cyclists and Asian sprint champion.
Mohd Azizulhasni Awang
Cycling
2 Gold, 1 Silver, 1 Bronze
Internationally renowned track cyclist nicknamed 'The Pocket Rocketman.'
Cheah Soon Kit
Badminton
Multiple medals including Gold
Part of Malaysia’s successful badminton doubles era in the 1990s.
Koh Eng Ton won Malaysia's first gold medal in weightlifting. Also Manikavasagam Jegathesan earned sprint medals and became famous as the “Flying Doctor of Malaysia
1970s-1980s
Malaysia saw growth in athletics, badminton, hockey, and sepak takraw
1990s
Expansion into squash and overall success
2000s
The rise of global stars like Lee Chong Wei and Nicol David
2010s
Diversification into diving, cycling, and gymnastics
2020s
Continued multi-sport competitiveness and modern excellence
Mani Jegathesan – The Sprinting Doctor
Mani Jegathesan – The Sprinting Doctor
Also known as the "Flying Doctor," Mani Jegathesan is a Malaysian sports legend who is regarded as one of Asia's greatest sprinters and a much-loved Malaysian athlete.
Wins
🏅First Malaysian to score a gold in the 200 meters at the 1962 Asian Games, marking Malaysia's first gold in the event
🏅3 gold medals at the 1966 Asian Games in Bangkok
🏅1st Malaysian to the 200 semi-finals at the Tokyo Olympics 1964.
🏅Reached the 200 m semi-finals at the 1968 Games in Mexico City. Set the Malaysian record of 20.92 seconds, which stood unbroken for 49 years until it was broken in 2017 by Malaysian sprinter Khairul Hafiz Jantan.
Key Milestones
🏅Won 3 gold medals at the Asian Games, along with medals at other Asian Games
👨⚕️Built a parallel career as a respected doctor while being one of the most famous athletes in Malaysia
Every night, I prepared myself mentally. Every night, I went to sleep and imagined myself winning the 100m race. Every night for two months, in my mind’s eye, I practised the dip.
Nurul Huda Abdullah – Swimming Sensation
🤽♀️Nurul Huda Abdullah – Swimming Sensation
One of Malaysia's top athletes and a sports legend, Nurul Huda Abdullah, became a national icon in the 1980s for her excellent performance in freestyle and individual medley events.
🥇 Incredible Achievement
Holds the record for the most medals won by a Malaysian athlete at the SEA Games, with an incredible total of 32 medals comprised of 22 gold, eight silver and two bronze medals.
🏊 Asian Games Success
The first and only Malaysian swimmer to win medals at the Asian Games
Won 2 silver and 2 bronze medals at the 1986 Asian Games
👑Honours
Named Malaysian Sportswoman of the Year every year from 1985-89.
Inducted into the Olympic Council of Malaysia Hall of Fame in 2004.
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Nurul Huda Abdullah Wins
Nurul Huda Abdullah is Malaysia’s most decorated SEA Games athlete, winning 22 gold medals across her career.
Dominance in Racket Sports
Nicol David – Squash Queen
Nicol David – Squash Queen
Nicol David, now retired, is regarded as the most successful squash player ever and a Malaysian sports legend.
🥇Incredible Achievement
She has won an incredible 81 titles (including World Open championships and 5 British Open crowns, 3 times World Games gold medalist, 2 Commonwealth Games golds and 7 times gold medalist in the Asian Games).
She was ranked World No. 1 for an extraordinary 108 straight months from 2006 to 2015 and had a stunning 9-year run as the uninterrupted world top-ranked player.
🔝Wins
Won her first international title in 1992--the Scottish Junior Open Under 12 and the Hong Kong Under 13 tournament
Became the youngest player to win a World Junior Championship at the age of 15 in 1999.
Won the Women’s World Squash Championship 8 times and the Asian Squash Championship 9 times, the highest in history.
🏆Honours
👉Voted the greatest female squash player of all time in a PSA fan poll in 2018
👉Named the World Games Greatest Athlete of All Time in 2021
👉Inducted into the PSA Hall of Fame in 2024
So all the sacrifices that you make with the traveling and moving around, it all pays off when you go on the glass court and you play your best squash and you feel that nothing else can faze you. That’s what the motivation to do all this – the traveling and training – is all about.
Nicol David in an interview to Sport 360
Lee Chong Wei – Badminton Maestro
Lee Chong Wei – Badminton Maestro
With 69 international titles and 705 career wins, Lee Chong Wei is undoubtedly one of the greatest Malaysian players of all time.
🏆Honoured with the Datuk Seri Title
A former Malaysian badminton singles player, Lee Chong Wei, was honoured with the prestigious Datuk Seri Title after becoming the first Malaysian ever to reach the men's singles finals at the 2008 Olympics, where he won a silver medal.
1️⃣World Rank No 1
He is the only Malaysian shuttler to hold the world-ranking number 1 rank for 348 weeks and a streak for 199 consecutive weeks from 21 August 2008 to 14 June 2012.
🏸Asian Games performance
He won the silver at the 2010 Asian Games held in Guangzhou after a hard-fought match against Lin Dan of China.
Badminton has been part of the Asian Games for a very long time. Want to know more? Read about the history of the Asian Games to know more.1
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Lee Chong Wei Wins
✅First non-Indonesian player to win 6 Indonesian Open titles ✅12 title wins at the Malaysia Open ✅6 consecutive years as year-end World No. 1 (2008-2013) ✅Won a remarkable 69 career titles, including a record-breaking 47 BWF World Superseries crowns, earning the title “King of Superseries.” ✅10 title wins at the National Championships
I remember this one time when I lost my temper during practice and threw my racquet to the ground. I was banned by Misbun from returning to the court for two weeks. I then apologised for throwing a tantrum. Training went on as usual after two weeks. I guess my coach’s principles and strict training made me the champion that I am today.
Lee Chong Wei to Leaderonomics
Explore Malaysia's best sports at the Asian Games and the athletes who have performed exceedingly well at the event.
Rightfully called the Bowling Queen, Shalin Zulkifli has had an amazing career spanning 28 years, winning medals galore both at the international and national stage.
👧Early Beginnings
Shalin first burst onto the scene at the 1993 Singapore SEA Games, where, at just 15 years old, she won two gold medals in the women's trio and team events. Ever since then, she has gone on to amass a whopping 74 international medals during her 28-year tenure.
🥉Most Impressive Performance
A 20-time SEA Games gold medallist, she has won every major title in bowling. Her most impressive performance was in 1999 in Brunei, when she won five of the six golds in the women's competition, except the singles gold.
🏆Commonwealth Games
At the 1998 Commonwealth Games, she won a Women's Doubles Silver medal. At the 2005 games, she won 3 gold medals and 1 bronze medal.
🏆Asian Games Achievements
Shalin also had a great track record at the Asian Games, earning an unprecedented 1 Gold, 4 Silver, and 3 Bronze medals. In doing so, she surpassed the earlier records held by Mani Jegathesan and Ng Boon Bee.
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Shalin's Achievement
✅First female champion to win the World Tenpin Masters in 2001 ✅Inducted into the International Bowling Hall of Fame in 2004 ✅Conferred a Datukship in 2023 for her lifelong contribution ✅Named National Sportswoman five times (1994, 1996, 1997, 2001 and 2002) ✅Winner of the Asian No 1 bowler title four times: in 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2004.
Esther Cheah – Continuing the Legacy
Esther Cheah – Continuing the Legacy
Esther Cheah continued the legacy left behind by Shalin Zulkifli. She is one of Malaysia’s finest modern bowlers and has an outstanding career. She retired in January 2026.
In the words of her father, she has “served the country for about 20 years, won almost everything possible, from the SEA Games to the Asian Games and the World Championships”, thereby earning recognition as one of Asia’s top ten-pin bowlers.
Malaysia’s first Singles World Champion
Esther Cheah is the first Malaysian to win an individual title, a feat she achieved at the 2005 WTBA World Tenpin Bowling Championships in Aalborg, Denmark, when she was just 19 years old.
International Success
Over the years, Esther had added to her medal kitty. Apart from the 2005 gold, she has won two World Team golds (2007, 2017), four Asian Championship golds (2008, 2016, 2019), and multiple Asian Games and SEA Games golds.
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Esther Cheah is the daughter of Holloway Cheah, who won a gold medal at the 1978 Asian Games and later became Malaysia’s national bowling coach. He played a huge role in her upbringing and coached her for a part of her career.
As a national athlete, Esther not only brought pride to Malaysia on the international stage but also served as a role model of perseverance, discipline and fighting spirit for the younger generation.
Youth and Sports Minister Taufiq Johari on Esther Cheah
Rising Stars in Malaysian Sports
Lee Zii Jia – Badminton's New Hope
Lee Zii Jia – Badminton's New Hope
Lee Zii Jia is one of Malaysia's most famous badminton players who continues to influence a new generation of players with his bold service style and explosive smashes. With a career record of 234 wins and 125 losses, he is truly one of the best Malaysian badminton players out there.
Career Wins
His major career wins include being crowned the 2022 Asian Champion, achieving a career-high world ranking of No. 2 and winning the men's singles bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
🏸 Incredible Achievement
He won the All England Open 2021, one of badminton's most elite tournaments. He defeated Denmark's Viktor Axelsen 30-29, 20-22, 21-9 in a 3-game final.
Playing style
His core playing style comprises the jump smash, which he often uses, the acrobatic backhand smash, and deceptive net play.
He has a powerful wrist, and he uses that to good effect. His explosive hand power often wins him quick points. He uses the Victor Thruster Ryuga II racket to support his aggressive gaming technique.
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Lee Zii Jia’s Historic 2021 Victory
Lee Zii Jia gained worldwide recognition after winning the men’s singles crown at the prestigious 2021 All England Open Badminton Championships, earning a position as one of Malaysia's sports legends for all time.
Lee Zii Jia is confirmed to participate in the badminton tournament at the 2026 Asian Games. Explore the new sports included in the 2026 Asian Games and check out the Asian Games 2026 schedule.
Soh Wooi Yik/ Aaron Chia– Doubles Specialist
Soh Wooi Yik/ Aaron Chia– Doubles Specialist
Soh Wooi Yik and Aaron Chia are a men’s doubles badminton pair who have been partners for eight years without interruption, and are Malaysia's biggest hope at the Asian Games.
Achievements
They are two-time Olympic bronze medalists, the reigning Asian champions in men’s doubles, and Malaysia’s first-ever badminton world champions (2022).
Key Milestones
They were the first Malaysian pair to become BWF World Champions (2022).
Playing Style
Aaron Chia is known for his front-court control and has good interception skills. Soh Wooi Yik is a mid-court specialist and delivers some really powerful smashes. Together, the pair dominate the entire court.
Communication is the most important for us. We can see there are a lot of pairs that maybe couldn't go really far together because of communication. But we have gone really far; we communicate a lot and help each other a lot.
Aaron Chia to Olympics on his equation with Soh Wooi Yik
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Key Wins
✅Gold Medal (2019) and Silver Medal (2025) at the SEA Games ✅Gold Medal (2022) – Men’s Doubles World Champions (Malaysia’s first ever) at the World Championships ✅Bronze Medal (Tokyo 2020) and another Bronze Medal (Paris 2024) They became the first Malaysian men’s doubles pair to win medals in consecutive Olympics ✅Gold Medal (2025) at the Badminton Asia Championship
The Future of Malaysian Athletics at the Asian Games
There is no denying that the country has performed well in sprint relays, long jump, pole vault, race walking, and even disciplines like swimming and badminton at the Asian Games. The right long-term investment in players' future will help Malaysia perform well in the upcoming Asian Games.2
Top Malaysian athletes at the Asian Games have inspired generations through their outstanding achievements in badminton, athletics, bowling, squash, and swimming. From Malaysian sports legends like Mani Jegathesan to famous athletes in Malaysia like Lee Zii Jia and Aaron Chia–Soh Wooi Yik, these athletes have strengthened Malaysia’s reputation in Asian sports.
Although competition at the Asian Games remains intense, Malaysian sports athletes continue to show strong potential and win medals for the country. With better grassroots development, proper funding and consistent coaching, our country can win more medals in future editions of the Games.
References
Ma, S., Soh, K. G., Japar, S. B., Yang, & Xu, Y. (2024). The analysis and competition strategy of the uncrowned king of badminton Lee Chong Wei’s key points. Cogent Social Sciences, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/23311886.2024.2317383
Sotiriadou, K., & Shilbury, D. (2009). Australian Elite Athlete Development: an organisational perspective. Sport Management Review, 12(3), 137–148. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smr.2009.01.002
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Susnigdha
A freelance writer and editor with over a decade of experience, I craft content across subjects like technology, education, and travel. Whether it's a white paper, blog post, or thought leadership piece, I combine in-depth research with engaging storytelling to deliver work that resonates. When I'm not writing, I'm usually planning my next adventure—35 countries and counting.
Who is Malaysia's most decorated athlete at the Asian Games?
Nicol David holds the record with seven gold medals in squash at the Asian Games. The legendary squash player has won nine medals, including seven golds, across six Asian Games appearances from 1998 to 2018. Her remarkable achievements made her one of Malaysia’s greatest sporting icons and a dominant force in international squash.
When did Malaysia win its first gold medal at the Asian Games?
Malaysia's first gold medal was won by Mani Jegathesan in the 200-meter sprint at the 1962 Asian Games held in Jakarta. The historic achievement came through the track cycling event. This milestone marked the beginning of Malaysia’s success at the Asian Games and inspired future generations of Malaysian athletes to excel internationally.
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