MALAYSIA recorded their best-ever showing in the Asian Games in the 16th edition in Guangzhou with a haul of 9-18-14. There were thrills and spills.
Some made heads turn in team events. There were outstanding individuals while some were just a big letdown. STARSPORT play back some of those moments in Guangzhou.
> MEN’S TEAM HOCKEY
NO one gave the team a ghost of a chance after their failures in the Commonwealth Games last month. At the Delhi Games, Malaysia finished eighth in the 10-team competition with just one win in five matches.
But Malaysia, who are ranked fifth in Asia, defied the odds and made it to the final for the first time since the inaugural Asiad in New Delhi in 1951.
They scored a famous win over India in the semi-finals.
Malaysia were 2-3 down with three minutes left on the clock but salvaged the match and went on to score a golden goal.
They settled for the silver with a tame display in the final against Pakistan.
In the group matches, Malaysia drew 2-2 with defending champions South Korea and eliminated China from the medal playoffs.
> MEN’S EIGHT-BALL POOL
THERE was little hope placed on the unknown set of Malaysian players from getting on the rostrum in the company of a star-studded cast, including Ding Junhui (China) and Marco Fu (Hong Kong) in snooker; the “Magician” Effren Reyes of the Philippines in pool; and Pankaj Advani of India in English billiards.
But one bubbly Malaysian, Ibrahim Amir ,made a name for himself by taking silver in the eight-ball pool event.
He made good on his third appearance in the Asian Games series.
Ibrahim crashed out in the second round in Busan (2002) and was a quarter-finalist in Doha (2006).
> MEN’S FOOTBALL
MALAYSIA didn’t get among the medals but earned some measure of respect by qualifying for the second round for the first time in 32 years.
With a depleted side because of injuries, they were expected to take the early flight home. After all, they had to deal with powerhouse Japan, who eventually won the gold medal, and China in a group which also had Kyrgyzstan.
But Malaysia advanced as one of the four best third-placed teams in a six-group preliminary competition. They edged Kyrgyzstan (2-1), lost to Japan (0-2) and China (0-3) and bowed out from the competition after going down to Iran (1-3) in the round of 16.
In the match against China, Malaysia were reduced to eight men due to some questionable decisions by referee Ben Williams of Australia.
Despite injury and suspension woes, Malaysia held on well for a goalless first half against Iran before losing out to their physically stronger opponents.
Some made heads turn in team events. There were outstanding individuals while some were just a big letdown. STARSPORT play back some of those moments in Guangzhou.
> MEN’S TEAM HOCKEY
NO one gave the team a ghost of a chance after their failures in the Commonwealth Games last month. At the Delhi Games, Malaysia finished eighth in the 10-team competition with just one win in five matches.
But Malaysia, who are ranked fifth in Asia, defied the odds and made it to the final for the first time since the inaugural Asiad in New Delhi in 1951.
They scored a famous win over India in the semi-finals.
Malaysia were 2-3 down with three minutes left on the clock but salvaged the match and went on to score a golden goal.
They settled for the silver with a tame display in the final against Pakistan.
In the group matches, Malaysia drew 2-2 with defending champions South Korea and eliminated China from the medal playoffs.
> MEN’S EIGHT-BALL POOL
THERE was little hope placed on the unknown set of Malaysian players from getting on the rostrum in the company of a star-studded cast, including Ding Junhui (China) and Marco Fu (Hong Kong) in snooker; the “Magician” Effren Reyes of the Philippines in pool; and Pankaj Advani of India in English billiards.
But one bubbly Malaysian, Ibrahim Amir ,made a name for himself by taking silver in the eight-ball pool event.
He made good on his third appearance in the Asian Games series.
Ibrahim crashed out in the second round in Busan (2002) and was a quarter-finalist in Doha (2006).
> MEN’S FOOTBALL
MALAYSIA didn’t get among the medals but earned some measure of respect by qualifying for the second round for the first time in 32 years.
With a depleted side because of injuries, they were expected to take the early flight home. After all, they had to deal with powerhouse Japan, who eventually won the gold medal, and China in a group which also had Kyrgyzstan.
But Malaysia advanced as one of the four best third-placed teams in a six-group preliminary competition. They edged Kyrgyzstan (2-1), lost to Japan (0-2) and China (0-3) and bowed out from the competition after going down to Iran (1-3) in the round of 16.
In the match against China, Malaysia were reduced to eight men due to some questionable decisions by referee Ben Williams of Australia.
Despite injury and suspension woes, Malaysia held on well for a goalless first half against Iran before losing out to their physically stronger opponents.
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