Six Golds Done: Malaysia Now Chase the Nine-Gold National Record and a 33-Medal Target
With 19 medals so far, Malaysia have met the gold target but are behind the 33-medal goal, and a minister wants the nine-gold record beaten.
Malaysia met the six-gold target at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on Sunday. Two days later, attention has moved to two other numbers: nine golds and 33 medals.
After the sepak takraw regu silver on Tuesday (29 September), Malaysia have six golds, four silvers and nine bronzes, a total of 19 medals. The Games end on 4 October.
The minister wants a record
Youth and Sports Minister Dr Mohammed Taufiq Johari has asked the athletes still competing to go for the national record. "Malaysia's best record at the Asian Games is nine gold medals, so if we can win more, we will create a new national record," he said, according to Bernama.
Bernama had Malaysia 10th on the medal table, on six golds, two silvers and nine bronzes, when Taufiq spoke. Two silvers have been added since. Taufiq said medallists will get the incentives set by the government.
The target nobody talks about: 33 medals
Six golds was the headline, but it was only part of the goal. Chef de mission Datuk Mohd Sumali Reduan set a target of 33 medals: six golds, seven silvers and 20 bronzes. According to Malay Mail, he called the target "realistic, based on the athletes' current form, recent achievements, medal potential and the strength of competition."
Here is how Malaysia compare:
| Target | Current (29 Sept) | |
|---|---|---|
| Gold | 6 | 6 |
| Silver | 7 | 4 |
| Bronze | 20 | 9 |
| Total | 33 | 19 |
The gold target has been met, but Malaysia need 14 more medals to reach 33, and there are only a few days left.
Where the six golds came from
- Karate (2): Adeola Fay Robert (women's -55kg kumite) and C. Shahmalarani (women's -50kg kumite)
- Esports (1): Taj Izrin Aiman Taj Madira (Gran Turismo 7)
- Sepak takraw (1): Men's team regu
- Squash (2): Ng Eain Yow and Sivasangari Subramaniam, both retaining their singles titles
On 28 September, Malaysian Karate Federation (MAKAF) president Datuk Nur Azmi Ahmad credited the karate golds to support from the ministry, the National Sports Council and the National Sports Institute. "This success is the result of an ecosystem that moves in tandem," he said, according to Bernama.
Where more medals could come from
Malaysia sent 352 athletes to compete in 30 sports. Several strong medal chances are still alive:
- Hockey: The unbeaten Speedy Tigers play South Korea in the semi-final on 1 October.
- Squash teams: Both the men and the top-seeded women are through to the quarter-finals, with the team events ending on 2 October.
- Track cycling: The campaign at Izu Velodrome started on 29 September with the men's team sprint.
Before the Games, Sumali listed 13 medal-potential sports: track cycling, badminton, archery, diving, squash, sepak takraw, hockey, athletics, sailing, karate, wushu, esports and shooting.
Where things stand
The six golds mean the pre-Games target is safe whatever happens in the last week. A seventh gold would be a bonus. Beating nine would be a new national record, which is exactly what the minister has asked for.
Key takeaways
- Malaysia's tally stands at 6 gold, 4 silver and 9 bronze (19 medals) after the regu silver on 29 September.
- Minister Taufiq Johari wants athletes to beat the national record of nine Asian Games golds.
- The full target was 33 medals (6-7-20), so Malaysia need 14 more.
- Hockey, squash team events and track cycling are the main remaining chances.
FAQ
Q: What was Malaysia's target at Aichi-Nagoya 2026? A: Six golds, seven silvers and 20 bronzes, a total of 33 medals, set by chef de mission Datuk Mohd Sumali Reduan.
Q: What is Malaysia's best Asian Games gold haul? A: Nine golds, according to Youth and Sports Minister Taufiq Johari.
Q: When do the Games end? A: On 4 October 2026.
Sources: Bernama, Malay Mail, Kosmo, Utusan Malaysia, eCentral