NSC’s gold medal drive to inspire student-athletes from former schools could become an annual event

TThe faces of the students lit up when they learned that some of the biggest names in Malaysian sports had studied at their school. Teachers and district education officers were also filled with pride and joy.

This strong emotion was felt during the Team MAS Road to Paris 2024 tour, organised by the National Sports Council (NSC), which honoured the athletes who will take part in the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris.

There is hope that the Olympic-bound Malaysian athletes will return home with the elusive Summer Games gold medal.

The almost month-long tour started on June 10 and ended on June 28. NSC representatives targeted several schools from Perlis to Johor and Sarawak. The program involved 23 schools across the country, with approximately 15,000 students participating. Students learned more about their top seniors, life in sports and were invited to quizzes and games.

The overwhelming response from students and their teachers prompted the NSC to consider making this an annual event.

“The students were super excited and happy. Many of them did not realize that our Olympians and Paralympians were their seniors in schools,” said NSC deputy director general Ariffin Ghani, who oversaw the program.

“I must admit that it is a good move and we are really happy with the result. Talking to the children, I told them that in addition to a healthy lifestyle, sport has a future.

Ariffin visited two schools in Sarawak – SMK Tarat in Serian and SMK Asajaya in Kota Samarahan. Paralympian powerlifter Bonnie Bunyau Gustin studied at SMK Tarat and Paralympian Nur Syaiful Zulkafli was from SMK Asajaya.

He said the main aim of the program was to raise awareness about Malaysian sports heroes ahead of the Paris Olympics and Paralympics. The Olympic Games will start on June 26 and the Paralympics on August 28.

“Initially we didn’t have specific schools, but then the team discussed and decided that we would go first to schools that helped nurture our Olympians and Paralympic athletes. It’s our way of showing our appreciation and support for the schools that produce our stars.

“It’s good that we can do it every year. This is a great way to inspire more young children to achieve athletic excellence. We would like to include more locations including Sabah in the next round,” he added.

List of schools and athletes who studied there

SMK Syed Alwi, Perlis (Datuk Abdul Latif Romly; para-athlete)
SMK Darul Aman Height, Kedah (Nurul Izzah Izzati Asri; cycling)
SJKC Keat Hwa H, Kedah (Lee Zii Jia and Pearly Tan; badminton)
SMK Bedong, Kedah (S. Suresh; Paralympic Archery)
SMK Jalan Paya Besar, Kedah (G. Daneshen; archery pair)
SMK Lahat, Perak (Mohamad Yusof Hafizi Shaharuddin; paracycling)
SMK Seri Iskandar, Perak (Nur Jannatun Abd Jalil; para archery)
Tanah Merah Technical School, Kelantan (Muhammad Ziyad Zolkefli; para-athlete)
SMK Sultan Omar, Terengganu (Datuk Azizulhasni Awang; cycling)
SMK Bukit Mentok Chukai, Terengganu (Nur Aisyah Zubir; cycling)
SMK Beserah, Pahang (Nur Shazrin Latiff; sailing)
SMK Gelang Patah, Johor (Muhammad Aniq Kasdan; weightlifting)
SJKC Wen Hua, Melaka (Toh Ee Wei; badminton)
SMK St. Francis, Melaka (Jonathan Wong; shooting)
SMK King George V, Negeri Sembilan (Chen Tang Jie; badminton)
SMK Darul Ehsan, Selangor (Noor Askuzaimey Mat Salim; boccia)
SMK Sri Sentosa, Kuala Lumpur (Cheah Like Hou; for badminton)
SMK Aminuddin Baki, Selangor (Ariana Nur Diana Mohamad Zairi; archery)
Integrated Islamic School, Selangor (Abdul Razzaq Abdul Rahman; boccia)
SMK Sri Hartamas, Kuala Lumpur (Goh Jin Wei; badminton)
SK St Paul, Sarawak (Bertrand Rhodict Lises; diving)
SMK Tarat, Sarawak (Bonnie Bunyau Gustin; Powerlifting Pair)
SMK Asajaya, Sarawak (Nur Syaiful Zulkafli; swimming for disabled people).

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