Can Malaysia win their first ever Olympic gold medal at the Tokyo Games? The Sports Ministry are certainly confident after setting a three-medal target, one of which is gold, for the 30 athletes who will be carrying Malaysia's hopes across 10 sports when the Games officially open on Friday.
The three Olympic medals, if they come, will likely be from track cycling, badminton and diving.
Azizulhasni Awang is Malaysia's best hope to win a gold in the keirin, while all eyes are on shuttler Lee Zii Jia in the men's singles following his victory at the All England in March.
In diving, Pandelela Rinong-Leong Mun Yee, after their silver-medal effort in the women's 10m platform synchro at the 2019 World Championships in South Korea, are also a medal hope.
However, Malaysia also have two seasoned divers in Pandelela and former world champion Cheong Jun Hoong who could dethrone China in the platform individual event.
Despite the various Covid-19 challenges faced by athletes since last year, Sports Minister Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican believes it is a realistic target after taking into consideration the views of all stakeholders.
He indicated that some of the athletes had even requested to have a gold medal target placed on them.
"Our athletes had faced numerous challenges in preparing for the Games since last year in terms of training and competitions to increase their competitive levels," said Reezal in a virtual press conference yesterday.
"Around the world, many nations have lowered their medal targets, while some have not set any at all.
"Taking into consideration all these factors, we have decided to take the middle ground and not be too optimistic nor too pessimistic.
"So realistically, for this edition, we are hoping to bring home three medals from three sports — badminton, track cycling and aquatics (diving).
"And from these three medals, one of them should, of course, be the long-awaited gold.
"The 30 athletes going to the Games all have different goals that they are looking to achieve.
"I do not want to deny athletes who want a key performance index (KPI) put on them. Some athletes came to me and said that (they wanted a KPI).
"And I have to honour that because they are so determined.
"Our medal target also shows that Malaysians and also the government have faith in their abilities." The Sports Ministry were supposed to announce Malaysia's Olympic target on Friday, but it was postponed to yesterday.
Former Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin did not set any medal target for the 2016 Rio Games, where Malaysia won a record four silver and one bronze.
Reezal said there will be additional incentives for athletes who win gold in Tokyo.
"In 2012, the National Sports Incentive Scheme (Shakam) was increased to RM1 million for gold medal winners, RM300,000 for silver and RM100,000 for bronze, and that still stands," said Reezal.
"But as you heard what Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said during the athletes' send-off recently, there will be a special incentive for gold medallists.
"But I am not privy to say what it is as it was announced by the PM.
"I believe that the PM intends to give that incentive on top of what has been approved (Shakam)."