KUALA LUMPUR, June 22 (Bernama) -- For the past several decades, Malaysia's plan for the Commonwealth Games has been simple: focus on sports synonymous with the country's success on the international stage.
Badminton usually delivers the goods; squash and rhythmic gymnastics almost always promise gold-medal opportunities, while diving and table tennis often complete the country's medal hopes.
This plan, or formula, is not merely a perception but has shaped Malaysia’s identity as one of the most successful Commonwealth Games powers in Asia.
However, when our national athletes march into the OVO Hydro, a multi-purpose indoor arena in Glasgow, Scotland, for the opening of the 2026 Commonwealth Games on July 23, the same formula will no longer be applicable.
That's because this will be the first time in the modern history of Malaysia’s participation that several sports, which have been the backbone of the country’s success, will not be featured.
The absence of badminton, squash, rhythmic gymnastics, diving and table tennis may be seen as merely a restructuring of the Games’ competition programme.
But, for Malaysia, the impact is much greater as it not only alters the calculation of the medal target, but also forces the entire national sports ecosystem to face a question that has rarely been discussed openly.
To what extent has Malaysia’s sporting strength truly developed beyond traditional sports? It is this question that makes Glasgow 2026 different from any previous edition.
This year's edition is not just a platform to chase medals, but also a test of the country’s investment in developing athletes in various sports over the years.
In other words, Glasgow 2026 will show whether Malaysia has a sufficient talent pool to continue competing when the major sports are no longer on the competition programme.
MOST EXTRAORDINARY GAMES IN COMMONWEALTH HISTORY:
Glasgow 2026 itself will be held in extraordinary circumstances.
After a series of issues related to hosting costs caused several potential hosts, including Malaysia, to pull out, Scotland’s largest city has come forward to save the quadrennial Games, albeit held on a smaller, more sustainable model.
The number of sports contested has been significantly reduced, and the number of venues has been rationalised with the clear aim of ensuring the survival of the Commonwealth Games in an era of ever-increasing costs of hosting mega sporting events.
For many countries, the changes may require only minor adjustments, but for Malaysia, the impact is much greater as it involves almost all the sports that have been its main source of medals.
It is no exaggeration to say that Glasgow 2026 may be the most challenging Commonwealth Games that Malaysia has faced in over two decades.
WHEN THE COMFORT ZONE DISAPPEARS:
In the world of sports, continued success can create a form of comfort zone.
When a country has sports that are almost guaranteed to deliver medals at every major Games, attention and confidence often become focused on those disciplines - and Malaysia is no exception.
Stars such as Datuk Seri Lee Chong Wei, Datuk Nicol Ann David, Datuk Mohd Azizulhasni Awang, Datuk Pandelela Rinong, and many others have built the belief - and confidence - that the country always has a chance to compete at the highest level. But Glasgow 2026 is set to change that narrative.
This time, Malaysia does not have the luxury of relying on past reputations and must seek new answers.
Those answers may come from athletes who have long operated outside the public spotlight, perhaps from sports that rarely make front-page - or even back-page - news, or even from a new generation of athletes who are still relatively unknown.
MORE THAN JUST MEDALS:
In any sporting event, success is often measured by the number of gold, silver and bronze medals won. However, Glasgow 2026 offers a slightly different perspective.
If Malaysia can deliver competitive performances even without several traditional sports, it would indicate that the country’s sports development has matured and is no longer dependent on any single discipline.
On the other hand, if performance levels drop significantly, it may signal that efforts to broaden the country’s base of sporting excellence have not yet reached the desired level.
In this context, Glasgow 2026 is not merely an 11-day competition but a form of audit regarding the effectiveness of investments, policies and planning implemented over many years.
The Malaysian chef de mission for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, Datuk Awalan Abdul Aziz, when contacted by Bernama, said that several key matters involving the national contingent are being finalised, with tomorrow being the final day for submitting athletes’ names.
Glasgow 2026 will be held from July 23-Aug 2, featuring 10 sports including athletics, swimming, track cycling, lawn bowls, boxing, judo and weightlifting, as well as six para sports held in an integrated format.
Malaysia may have won seven gold, eight silver and eight bronze medals at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games, but a tougher challenge awaits in Glasgow 2026 as four of those gold medals came from sports that are not included this time.
-- BERNAMA
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