Since badminton was introduced at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, Malaysia has enjoyed a fair share of the podium finishes.
In fact, Malaysia have only returned home empty-handed twice — in 2000 (Sydney) and 2004 (Athens).
For the most part, Malaysia had Lee Chong Wei to thank for. The former World No 1, who competed in four Olympics, delivered three consecutive silver medals from 2008-2016.
But with the 39-year-old now retired, can the country's new generation of players step up to the plate and continue Chong Wei's legacy at the world greatest sporting event?
Amid the uncertainty in a world wrecked by the Covid pandemic, can the Malaysian shuttlers pull something out of the hat, when least expected?
Without much tournament exposure over the past one year, can they rise to the occasion despite the Covid-19 outbreak at their national training centre apart from the lockdowns that affected their preparation and morale?
Except for Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying, who won the mixed doubles silver five years ago in Rio, the rest of the badminton team to Tokyo are Olympic newcomers.
BAM coaching director, Wong Choong Hann is well aware of the great expectations from Malaysian fans.
After all, badminton has delivered the most medals for Malaysia in Olympic history with a total of six silver medals and two bronze.
However, given the circumstances, Malaysia's shuttlers face an uphill task in finishing on the podium.
But even with the odds stacked against them, there is still belief that the shuttlers will not return empty-handed.
"We are targeting a medal, at least one medal from the Games," Choong Hann said.
"Of course we would like the best possible colour (gold), also the more medals the better.
"But this is the best we can hope for now.
"Results will only come from the best preparation. We will continue with that approach."
Based on the draw, World No 8 Lee Zii Jia looks to be Malaysia's best bet for a medal.
After a poor start earlier this year, the 23-year-old picked himself up and silenced his critics by defeating Japan's World No 1 Kento Momota and former world champion Viktor Axelsen of Denmark en route to the All England title in March.
Zii Jia, who has been hailed as Chong Wei's successor by the world badminton fraternity, is expected to clear the Olympic preliminary rounds against France's Brice Leverdez and Ukraine's Artem Pochtarov.
The Kedahan is slated to take on defending champion Chen Long in the last 16, and anything can happen, as the China ace has not played in any international tournament since the 2020 All England, which also happened to be his last encounter with Zii Jia.
Back then, Zii Jia upstaged his more illustriout rival with a convincing 21-12, 21-18 win in the last eight.
In the women's singles, independent shuttler, Soniia Cheah is in Group N with fifth seed, Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand and Hungary's Laura Sarosi.
The doubles events promise a little more excitement with the top two pairs advancing to the quarter-finals before a fresh draw is conducted.
In men's doubles, national No 1 Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik have everything to play for in Group D with World No 2 Mohammad Ahsan-Hendra Setiawan of Indonesia, South Korea's Choi Solgyu-Seo Seung Jae and Canada's Jason Anthony Ho-Shue-Nyl Yakura.
In what might be the most
competitive group, mixed
doubles Peng Soon-Liu Ying will have to contend with World No 2 Wang Yi Lyu-Huang Dongping of China, Germany's Mark Lamfuss-Isabel Herttrich and Hong Kong's Tang Chun Man-Tse Ying Suet
And women's doubles Chow Mei Kuan-Lee Meng Yean have to deal with World No 1 in local favourites Yuki Fukushima-Sayaka Hirota.
Their other rivals in Group A are Indonesia's World No 6 Greysia Polii-Apriyani Rahayu and the United Kingdom's Chloe Birch-Lauren Smith.
Because of so many Covid restrictions, BAM will send only four coaches, one team manager and three support service staff to Tokyo.