Olympic dreams or reality?

Here's the list of Malaysia's hopes in the Beijing Olympics that starts next Friday.

• Archery: Cheng Chu Sian, Muhammad Marbawi Sulaiman, Wan Mohd Khalmizan Wan Ab Aziz
• Athletics: Roslinda Samsu, Yuan Yu Fang, Lee Hup Wei
• Badminton: Lee Chong Wei, Wong Choong Hann, Koo Kien Keat , Tan Boon Heong , Lee Wan Wah , Choong Tan Fook , Wong Mew Choo , Wong Pei Tty, Chin Ee Hui
• Cycling: Azizul Hasni Awang, Josiah Ng, Mohd Edrus Yunus, Rizal Tisin
• Diving: Bryan Nickson anak Lomas, Leong Mun Yee, Elizabeth anak Jimie, Pandelela Rinong anak Pamg
• Sailing: Dr. Kevin Lim
• Shooting: Hasli Izwan Amir Hasan
• Swimming: Daniel William Henry Bego , Siow Yi Ting, Khoo Cai Lin, Lew Yih Wey, Leung Chii Lin
• Taekwondo: Elaine Teo Shueh Fhern, Che Chew Chan
• Weightlifting: Amirul Hamizan Ibrahim

Now, are we going to see medals?

Reality is, some new sports like cycling, archery and diving have come into the picture, while most mouths are talking about badminton again. Well, badminton is consistently at the top level and the question most of those mouths are asking is also about whether a gold that would give them a RM1 million jackpot will be delivered.
But don't forget, it was the same story in Athens in 2004, as was the case in Sydney in 2000. All the hype and then... thumping, heart-wrenching failure.
Cycling? Azizul Hasni Awang is just 20, but looking like a world-beater. Josiah Ng is older, wiser and faster, but so is the competition. The team sprint with Rizal Tisin added to the duo, is improving. They will show an improved time in Beijing. But will they be good enough for a medal?
Archery is next in line with Cheng Chu Sian a world number seven, Marbawi Sulaiman is 27th, Wan Mohd Khalmizam Wan Abdul Aziz is ranked third in the world, but will that mean a bronze medal?
For the record, while badminton has won big money open tournaments, it wasn't the case in the World Championships. While the cyclists have beaten the top guns in lower ranked UCI events, they've not won a single World Cup medal in the past two seasons.
While we may continue dreaming of medals, records show surprises do happen at the highest level. Little known countries like Surinam have delivered swimmers like Anthony Nesty, who came from out of nowhere to bag an Olympic 100m butterfly gold in 1988. So did Nigeria in their 1996 Olympic football gold medal romp. That was a surprise. As was the case with Argentina's basketball team in Athens four years ago. You would have never guessed they even stood a chance for the bronze medal, but there they were on the top step of the podium after outclassing fellow-surprise finallists Italy in the final.
Surprises do happen. Only thing is, of the great Olympic surprises, none has ever told a Malaysian story.