Page 243 - Westport Guide To Malaysia

THE GUIDE TO MALAYSIA 235
Wei with 3 silver medals in badminton.
Malaysians have a passion for sport which transcends all racial and religious boundaries,
and nowadays, despite increasing urbanisation, most Malaysians can access amenities such as public parks, health clubs and sport complexes in order to pursue sport and recreational activities. This passion is reflected by
the Government, which formed the Youth and Sports Ministry in 1972 to
oversee the development of sport in the country. The ministry invests heavily in developing sports facilities and future athletes and - together with the sports associations, volunteers, commercial sponsors, media, umpires, referees, coaches and of course the dedicated athletes and their supportive families - has placed the country firmly on the international sporting map. With a wealth of talent among
its diverse population, Malaysia looks forward
confidently to building on these strong foundations to emerge as a major sporting power on the world stage.
MALAYSIAN SUCCESS STORIES
Badminton
Malaya won the inaugural Thomas Cup (men’s team world championship) in 1949 and has since won five times and been runner- up nine times. Malaysians
have also won 6 silver and 3 bronze Olympic medals
Former World No 1 Lee Chong Wei ends his dazzling career by winning the 2018 Malaysian Open. Inset: All England Open Badminton Champion 2021, Lee Jia Zia, at the Arena Birmingham, UK.