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NAGOYA - Malaysia's two-week stint at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games concluded on a high note, with the country surpassing its six-gold target and matching its best-ever haul of nine gold medals set at the 2010 Guangzhou Games. The Games, which saw Malaysia place 11th in the medal table, saw the Southeast Asian nation claim 9 gold, 7 silver and 16 bronze medals, marking a positive end to their athletic campaign.

The squash team led the way for Malaysia, winning four gold medals and one bronze, while S. Sivasangari and Ng Eain Yow secured automatic qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics after defending their singles titles. Other sports that made a significant impact for Malaysia in Japan included karate, track cycling, eSports and sepak takraw, all contributing crucial medals to the tally.

Notable performers from Malaysia included karate exponent C Shahmalarani, sim racer Taj Izrin Aiman Taj Madira, and Azizulhasni Awang, who shone in the Izu Velodrome in Shizuoka. Younger athletes such as karate exponent Adeola Fay Robert, track cyclist Nur Alyssa Farid and squash player Ameeshenraj Chandaran also made their mark at the Games.

Looking ahead, Malaysia will need to focus on their performance at the next edition of the Asian Games in Doha in 2030, but first, they have their sights set on the upcoming Malaysia SEA Games next year.