Malaysia at Asian Games 2026: Squad Shakeups & Medal Hopes
Riding high after a standout Commonwealth Games showing, Malaysia heads to Aichi-Nagoya with a badminton squad missing its biggest star. Here’s what’s confirmed so far about Malaysia’s 2026 squads.
Malaysia’s Asian Games Track Record
Malaysia’s total medal count dropped slightly from 36 in 2018 to 32 in 2023, though it still exceeded its pre-Games target of 27. Malaysia’s best-ever Asian Games showing remains 2010 Guangzhou, with 9 gold, 18 silver, and 14 bronze.
| Edition | Rank | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Jakarta-Palembang | 14th | 7 | 13 | 16 | 36 |
| 2022/23 Hangzhou | 14th | 6 | 8 | 18 | 32 |
Source: Malaysia at the 2018 Asian Games and Malaysia at the 2022 Asian Games, Wikipedia; Bernama.
Malaysia’s Strongest Sports
Squash, sailing, bowling, track cycling, badminton, wushu, sepak takraw, diving, karate, weightlifting, and pencak silat have been Malaysia’s most consistent Asian Games medal sources. Malaysia’s Youth & Sports Ministry has officially named aquatics, badminton, cycling, archery, squash, karate, and wushu as its seven “medal potential” sports for 2026 under its ASIAKOM preparation project.
Malaysia’s Official Squads by Sport
Malaysia’s federations have named full rosters in badminton and esports, with several traditionally strong sports like squash, cycling, and diving still finalizing performance-based selections closer to the Games.
Confirmed via official federation/media sources
| Sport | Key Named Athletes | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Badminton | Full 20-athlete roster incl. Aaron Chia, Pearly Tan/M. Thinaah, Goh Soon Huat, K. Letshanaa — but notably without Lee Zii Jia (see storylines) | Confirmed |
| Esports (Mobile Legends: Bang Bang) | 6-player squad incl. Sizkaa, Chibi, Martzy — qualified via SEA regional qualifier in Singapore | Confirmed |
Reported but not yet formally finalized
| Sport | Notes |
|---|---|
| Squash | Sanjay Jeeva and Duncan Lee are the frontrunners per the national coach, with Ameeshenraj Chandaran and Mohammad Syafiq Kamal also in contention, but no final squad named. |
| Track Cycling | Muhammad Shah Firdaus Sahrom and Nurul Izzah Izzati Mohd Asri are expected team leaders; veteran Azizulhasni Awang has not confirmed his participation as of an early August report. |
| Diving | Veterans Pandelela Rinong and Nur Dhabitah Sabri have both been publicly warned they must perform at trials or risk being dropped — no final squad confirmed. |
| Weightlifting | No named 2026 roster found, but recent Commonwealth Games gold medalists Muhammad Erry Hidayat and Hafizuddin are strong likely selections given weightlifting’s “medal potential” status. |
| Sepak Takraw | Malaysian media confirms the federation plans to maintain its current squad, but individual player names were not accessible in available sources. |
Team confirmed, no roster yet / not found
| Sports |
|---|
| Bowling, Sailing, Karate, Wushu, Archery |
Storylines to Watch
Lee Zii Jia’s shock exclusion. Malaysia’s top men’s singles badminton star, a former world No. 2 and Olympic bronze contender, was left off both the team and individual event lineups, reportedly due to injury setbacks and inconsistent 2026 form — the biggest talking point heading into the Games.
Badminton’s doubles reshuffle. Olympic bronze medalists Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik have been split up, with Wooi Yik omitted from the squad entirely and Chia repaired with Tee Kai Wun.
Diving’s veteran ultimatum. Olympic medalist Pandelela Rinong and Nur Dhabitah Sabri have both been publicly warned to perform at trials or face being dropped, setting up a “veteran vs. youth” storyline in the pool.
Squash’s post-Nicol David era. With former world No. 1 Nicol David and two-time Asiad team gold medalist Low Wee Wern both retired, a new, lower-ranked generation led by Ng Eain Yow and Sanjay Jeeva carries Malaysia’s once-dominant squash program into 2026.
Rising expectations after a strong Commonwealth Games. Malaysia’s chef de mission says an outstanding 2026 Commonwealth Games showing (8 gold, 3 silver, 5 bronze against a 5-gold target) has raised pressure and expectations for Aichi-Nagoya.