“I HAVE dreamt many times about how great a feeling it would be to stand on the podium.” Goh Liu Ying (badminton).
“Aim big and work hard.” Azizulhasni Awang (cycling)
“I tried my best... He was well prepared.” Datuk Lee Chong Wei (badminton).
Entrepreneurs will be nodding their heads in agreement with the above statements. So will those who have excelled in their respective fields. They all won medals at the Rio Olympics by dreaming and working hard. Chong Wei also said that he did his best.
How many of us “Anak-anak Malaysia” have the same dreams and winning attributes, and try to emulate them? They brought cheers and medals each back to our beloved country. So did Chan Peng Soon (Liu Ying’s partner), Pandelela Rinong, Cheong Jun Hoong (diving) Goh V Shem and Tan Wee Kiong. They are our success stories today and hopefully, for many more years to come.
We have despaired for far too long and they have brought hope to us. We used to be “Malaysia Boleh” and “Malaysia Bagus” but somehow, we drifted. They have shown and told us how to be and do better, and to be among the best in the world.
Can we take up the challenge? Can we be world-class in other sports and disciplines as diverse as banking and industries? We have Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz and Tan Sri Tony Fernandes.
Besides the medals, with only one arm, Chong Wei, Peng Soon-Liu Ying, V Shem-Wee Kiong united all Malaysians. Azizulhasni aroused our patriotic fervour. Can we reproduce or find and nurture more of these kind of Malaysians who will triumph through perseverance? As the curtains draw to a close in Rio de Janiero, we will be celebrating the historic day. Thank you very much Malaysian Olympians and Selamat Hari Merdeka!
SALEH MOHAMMED,
Kuala Lumpur