Since badminton debuted at the 1992 Olympic Games, Malaysia have been represented by eight female players.
Singles shuttler Chan Chia Fong was the first, at Atlanta 96, but it wasn’t before another eight years in 2004 that two more – doubles pair Pei Tty Wong and Eei Hui Chin – competed at the Games.
Wong and Chin returned at Beijing 2008 to be the first Malaysian women to do back-to-back Olympics and remained so until Goh Liu Ying entered the fray.
When she competed in Rio four years ago, Goh – and singles player Tee Jing Yi – matched Wong and Chin’s feat.
Come July, Goh will be out on her own as the only Malaysian woman to feature at three Olympics, also consecutively, having made her debut at London 2012.
The 32-year-old, who already has a few Olympic firsts for her country, told the Star recently: “I’m really proud to be heading to Tokyo for my third Olympics.
“I feel blessed and happy to be able to play at the highest level this long. I’ve gone through many obstacles, especially a few major injuries. So, these firsts at the Olympics certainly mean a lot.”
In 2012, Goh and partner Chan Peng Soon became the first Malaysian mixed pair to qualify for the Olympics.
Four years later in Brazil, in winning a silver medal, they became the first Malaysian mixed pair to reach the final and climb the podium. Goh remains her country’s only female medallist.
“In Malaysian badminton perspective, this shows the sport is not only defined by men but also women, who are getting stronger and better,” opined Goh.
“I hope more young female athletes will be motivated to be great not only in badminton, but also in whatever sport they pursue.”
Goh, Malaysia’s flagbearer in Tokyo next month, will start the mixed event with Chan as the seventh seeds.