THE world of sports was badly impacted by Covid-19 with many events cancelled or forced behind closed doors.
While it was a crazy year for everyone, there were still extraordinary sporting feats achieved by Malaysian athletes.
Timesport takes a look at the highs and lows of the year.
BEST ATHLETES
Male — Azizulhasni Awang (track cycling)
The 32-year-old was, undoubtedly, Malaysia's biggest star of the year following his feats at the Berlin World Championships in February.
Azizulhasni returned with two bronze medals (keirin and sprint) and a new Asian record in the sprint.
The Dungun-born, who was World No 1 at the start of the year, showed his winning form with a gold medal in the keirin at the recent Australian National Championships in Brisbane in his first competition in nine months.
The Pocket Rocketman certainly has the pedigree to upset the formbook to win Malaysia's first-ever Olympic gold in Tokyo.
Female — Kelly Tan (golf)
The 27-year-old made a remarkable return to the LPGA Tour with several eye-catching performances.
Kelly, who had to regain her Tour Card through the LPGA Qualifying Series in December last year, finished in the top 30 on seven occasions and missed just two cuts in 15 tournaments.
Her most notable performance was finishing 13th at the women's PGA Championship, which marked the best ever Major outing by a Malaysian — men and women.
Kelly hopes the New Year will bring her more successes as she eyes her first LPGA Tour title.
BEST TEAM
Johor Darul Ta'zim (football)
The interrupted M-League did not stop JDT from continuing their dominance in Malaysian football.
Benjamin Mora's side started the season by clinching the Charity Shield before winning the Super League crown for the seventh straight time in style.
The Southern Tigers achieved their second unbeaten season run en route to the title with nine wins and two draws, scoring 33 goals in 11 matches.
BEST PAIR
Leong Mun Yee-Pandelela Rinong (diving)
The Olympic-bound pair started the year by winning the women's 10m platform synchro silver at the Montreal round of the World Series in February.
Mun Yee-Pandelela, however, could not complete their season following the cancellation of the World Series due to Covid-19.
Going by their form in recent times, the pair definitely have what it takes to return with a medal from the Tokyo Olympics.
UP-AND-COMING STARS
Lee Zii Jia (badminton)
Seen as a successor to former World No 1 Lee Chong Wei, the 22-year-old started the year with a bang at the Malaysia Masters.
The World No 10 defeated the likes of Denmark's Anders Antonsen, India's Sameer Verma and China's Shi Yu Qi en route to the semi-finals of the Malaysia Masters before losing to world champion Kento Momota of Japan.
Zii Jia again grabbed attention at the All England in Birmingham by reaching the last four before going down to eventual champion Viktor Axelsen of Denmark.
The season could have been a breakthrough year for Zii Jia if not for the Covid-19 pandemic.
With age and enthusiasm on his side, Zii Jia will be the shuttler to watch next year, especially at the Tokyo Olympics.
Luqman Hakim Shamsuddin (football)
The 18-year-old, a product of the National Football Development Programme, joined Belgian side KV Kortrijk on a five-year contract.
In October, he made his Belgian Pro League debut as a second-half substitute in the 3-1 defeat by Anderlecht, becoming the first Malaysian to make an appearance in a top-tier league in Europe.
However, Luqman's season was disrupted by a hamstring injury. He has since recovered.
Many Asian footballers use the Belgian league as a stepping stone to break into Europe, and if Luqman shines, he could be in for bigger things.
Berlin Leong and Celine Chuang (women's football)
Female footballers hardly get recognition in Malaysia as more focus is given to men's teams.
However, this has not stopped the nation's top female players from making a name outside Malaysia.
Berlin, 19, recently made her Spanish League debut for Pozuelo B FC against Real Madrid while Celine has joined Bayern Munich's Under-17 team.
SPECIAL MENTION
Shahrel Fikri Fauzi (football)
Perak striker Shahrel was close to becoming only the second local player to win the Super League Golden Boot award.
However, he was denied by Selangor's Nigerian striker Ifedayo Omosuyi who netted 12 goals in the shortened season. Shahrel finished second on the chart with 10 goals.
Abdul Hadi Yahya still stands as the only local to win the coveted award, achieved with Terengganu in the 2011 Super League which then had no foreign players.
Although Shahrel failed to land the award, his goal-scoring exploits are certainly exciting news for Harimau Malaya, who need a quality striker to lead their attack in the pre-World Cup.
Shahrel has signed with Selangor for the new season.
TRAGEDIES
Kento Momota (badminton)
In January, Momota was badly injured when the vehicle taking him to the airport, after he won the Malaysia Masters, crashed in Kuala Lumpur.
The World No 1 underwent several surgeries in Tokyo and was out of the game for several months.
However, Momota returned with a bang by winning the All-Japan Championships recently and he is preparing for the Thailand Open next year.
Momota is the favourite to win the men's singles gold at the Tokyo Olympics.
Syafiq Ahmad (football)
National player Syafiq was involved in a horrific accident recently in Nibong Tebal which claimed the lives of his 22-day-old son, mother-in-law and a maid. His wife and daughter were injured.
They were on their way to his in-laws' house in Pendang, Kedah, when Syafiq lost control of his vehicle before it skidded and crashed into a guardrail.
DUBIOUS DISTINCTION
Police (football)
Ishak Kunju's side created history as the "worst-ever" team in the M-League when they completed the season on "minus one point" in the Super League.
No team in the world had finished on minus points in a top-flight competition, and Police have the dubious distinction of being the first.
The Cops started the season on minus three when they were docked points for failing to settle the salary arrears of players.
UNPROFESSIONAL CONDUCT
M-League (football)
Despite the sincere efforts of the organisers, there are always black sheep around to taint the M-League.
Players, coaches and staff of several teams were owed several months' salaries during the season.
While most teams have settled salary arrears, there are some who still owe their players, coaches and staff.
The salary issue is not new in the M-League, and it reflects badly on FAM and MFL though they work hard to improve the M-League.
Sterner actions should be taken against the bad paymasters to ensure the league continues to grow.
BEST ASSOCIATION
BAM, under president Datuk Seri Norza Zakaria, were never idle as they hosted in-house tournaments to keep their shuttlers competitive and motivated despite the cancellation of international tournaments due to Covid-19.
The association hosted the President's Cup, Mixed Team Championship and Junior Mixed Team Championship. It is hoped that their efforts would be rewarded at the Tokyo Olympics in July.
NOTABLE DEATHS:
V. Krishnasamy (football)
The 1972 Munich Olympic ace died after a long battle with diabetes in August. He was 72. Known as the Machine, the midfielder who donned national colours from 1967 to 1976, recorded one appearance in Munich against the United States (3-0).
He started his career with Penang Indian Association before representing Penang in the Burnley Cup and the Prisons team in the Taiping League.
He was later selected for the Perak team and national team in 1967.
Datuk Mohamad Bakar (football)
The 1972 Olympics hero died in November in Kepala Batas, aged 75. In Munich, he was outstanding as a right winger, complementing the likes of Datuk Soh Chin Aun and Wong Kam Fook.
Mohamad, who had 43 international caps, also helped the national team win a bronze medal at the 1974 Asian Games in Tehran.
He was the assistant coach of the national team that qualified for the 1980 Moscow Olympics, before being appointed as head coach in 1985.
Datuk Namat Abdullah (football)
A key member of Malaysia's 1972 Munich Olympics team, Namat died from cancer recently. He was 74.
The Penang-born defender, the elder brother of former international Shaharuddin Abdullah, was regarded as one of the best players in Asia in his heyday.
Namat also inspired Malaysia to the Thailand King's Cup title in 1972, the Merdeka Cup crown in 1973 and Aga Khan Gold Cup triumph in Bangladesh in 1976. He was also a member of the 1974 Tehran Asian Games squad who won a bronze medal.
Moey Yoke Ham (football)
Fondly known as Uncle Moey, the coach, who had a knack for winning major titles, died in Penang recently. He was 76.
Moey was Penang coach from 1996 until 2000, transforming the state team into a respectable force in the local football scene which took many by surprise.
Under him, Penang won the Premier 1 league crown in 1998.
T. Sambanthan (football)
The former national player died in November at the age of 82. Sambanthan played for Penang in the 1960s, and was instrumental in the state reaching the Malaysia Cup finals in 1968 and 1969.
He was also drafted into the National B team, playing against Australia, South Korea, Hong Kong and Asean nations.
Tan Aik Mong (badminton)
Regarded as a badminton legend, Aik Mong died in May after a battle with cancer. He was 70.
He won the silver in the 1970 Thomas Cup in Kuala Lumpur and 1973 Sea Games, and the gold at the 1971 Asian Championship in Jakarta.
The Penang-born also held various positions in BAM.
Zambrose Abdul Rahman (athletics)
The former national 400m hurdles champion died in June from cancer. He was 76.
Zambrose represented the nation at the 1968 Mexico Olympics. According to www.olympiandatabase.com, he clocked 53.2s to finish eighth in the first round. He also won a gold (400m hurdles) and bronze (4x400m) in the 1969 Rangoon (now Yangon) SEAP Games.
J.V. Jayan (athletics)
The former national decathlon champion died in April in Seremban. He was 74.
Jayan, known as Iron Man in his hey day, took gold in the 1973 SEAP Games in Singapore. He also won silver in three SEAP Games: Bangkok (1967), Myanmar (1969) and Kuala Lumpur (1971).
The versatile athlete also won the 400m hurdles (1972, 1975, 1976) and the decathlon (1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1977) at the National Athletics Championships.
He retired from athletics in 1977 but continued as chief coach for Negeri Sembilan. When he was the Malaysian Amateur Athletics Federation chief coach from 1989 to 1994, he unearthed talent like Nur Herman Majid, R. Vasu and R. Thangavelu.
Moses Tay (tennis)
The former national Davis Cup captain passed away last month in Lumut. He was 92.
A teacher by profession, Moses is best remembered for captaining Malaysia's Davis Cup team from 1969 to 1971. He represented the country for 15 years.
Moses also served as headmaster of the Anglo Chinese School in Setiawan from 1972 to 1979.