COMMENT | Our youths gave us an Olympic medal, we gave them the worst Malaysia

COMMENT | After being trapped at home in the 17-month long battle against Covid-19, Malaysia desperately needed something to celebrate.

Our badminton men’s doubles pair consisting of Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik (above) were not favourites to win a medal, especially when they had to face powerhouses from Indonesia and China.

Aaron and Soh’s defeat to Li Jun Hui and Liu Yu Chen at the semi-finals shattered our nation’s dream of clinching an impossible gold-or-silver to vicariously uplift our spirits. The underdog pair from Malaysia started the bronze match with a loss of 17-21.

But with the thoughts of their family and the entire country behind them, Aaron and Soh took control of the game and fought back with a series of smashes, lobs and drops envious to all who watched. With three points to win, Aaron and Soh held their ground and stood close to each other.

When the final smash was unreturned, Aaron and Soh fell to the ground in joy, covering their faces in disbelief. Back home, flats and apartments cheered in jubilance, in the spirit of a gold medal. Aaron is 24 years of age, Soh is 23.

Young people today are smarter, more courageous and more resilient than any generation that came before them...