Kejayaan Malaysia di Sukan Asia 1974

Sukan Asia ke-7 merupakan edisi yang terbesar ketika itu sejak kali pertama dipertandingkan. Teheran, ibu negara Iran, telah menjadi tuan rumah kepada lebih 3,000 atlet dari 25 negara. Acara-acara sukan yang ditambahkan pada tahun tersebut termasuk bola keranjang wanita, lawan pedang, dan gimnastik.

Jepun merupakan kontinjen luar negara yang terbesar dengan 291 orang atlet, berbanding hanya 70 atlet dari Malaysia akibat kekangan kewangan. 

Malaysia telah berjaya membawa pulang satu pingat perak serta empat pingat gangsa. Satu-satunya pingat perak dimenangi oleh Ishtiaq Mubarak dalam acara 110m lari berpagar. Lapan tahun sebelum itu, beliau memenangi pingat gangsa bagi acara yang sama di Sukan Asia 1966.

Satu lagi pingat olahraga dimenangi oleh Junaidah Aman yang merangkul pingat gangsa dalam acara 400m. Ia merupakan acara larian yang dinanti-nantikan kerana dua bulan sebelumnya, Junaidah telah terbukti lebih pantas daripada pemenang pingat emas, Chee Swee Lee, dalam acara 400m di Kejohanan Terbuka Singapura.

Namun, Swee Lee digelarkan juara dengan catatan masa 55.08s yang memecahkan rekod kejohanan. Semasa pusingan saringan, Swee Lee telah pun memecah rekod kejohanan yang sebelum itu dipegang oleh M. Rajamani dari Malaysia (56.3s) dengan masa 55.6s. Junaidah mengikuti dekat di belakangnya dengan catatan masa 55.91s. 

Harimau Malaya berjaya memenangi pingat gangsa setelah menewaskan Korea Utara 2-1. Kedua-dua gol dijaringkan oleh Isa Bakar pada minit ke-48 dan ke-81. Pada peringkat kumpulan, Malaysia tewas 1-0 kepada juara kejohanan Iran, seri 0-0 menentang Iraq, dan mengalahkan Korea Selatan 3-2. Gol-gol Malaysia dijaringkan oleh Harun Jusoh (10’, 22’) dan Ali Bakar (78’).

Malaysia turut membawa pulang pingat dalam sukan hoki dan acara menembak. Pasukan skeet lelaki, terdiri daripada Ally Ong, Edmond Yong, Stanley Lim dan Yap Pow Thong, memenangi pingat gangsa dalam acara mereka. 

Pasukan hoki Malaysia pula memenangi pingat gangsa setelah menewaskan Jepun 3-1. Poon Fook Loke menjaringkan gol pertama dan M. Mahendran menjaringkan gol kedua melalui pukulan penalti enam minit kemudian. Fook Loke sekali lagi berjaya menghadiahkan Malaysia satu gol lagi untuk mengukuhkan kemenangan mereka. 

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The seventh edition of the Asian Games was its biggest yet. Held in Tehran, the capital of Iran was host to over 3,000 athletes over 25 nations. New sports were added to the tournament including Women’s basketball, fencing, and gymnastics. 

Japan was the largest foreign entry with 291 athletes, compared to Malaysia’s contingent of 70 due to financial restraints. 

Malaysia brought home one silver medal and four bronze medals in total. The silver medal was clinched by Ishtiaq Mubarak in the 110m hurdles event. Eight years earlier, he won the bronze medal for the same event at the 1966 Asian Games. 

Another medal in athletics was awarded to Junaidah Aman who won bronze in 400m. It was an anticipated event as Junaidah had beaten the gold medallist, Chee Swee Lee, in the same event at the Singapore Open Championships two months prior.

However, Swee Lee won this time around with a record-breaking time of 55.08. During the heats, Swee Lee had already broken the Games’ record previously held by Malaysia’s M. Rajamani (56.3s) at 55.6s. Junaidah was only slightly behind her at 55.91s.

Harimau Malaya won the bronze medal in football after defeating North Korea 2–1. The two goals were scored by Isa Bakar in the 48th and 81st minute respectively. In the group stages, Malaysia had lost 1-0 to later champions, Iran, drew 0-0 against Iraq, and won 3-2 against South Korea. Malaysia’s goals were scored by Harun Jusoh (10’, 22’) and Ali Bakar (78’).

Malaysia also brought home medals in hockey and shooting. The Men’s Skeet team, consisting of Ally Ong, Edmond Yong, Stanley Lim and Yap Pow Thong, won the bronze medal. 

The Malaysian hockey team also took home the bronze medal after defeating Japan 3–1. Their first goal came in the second minute through Poon Fook Loke before a penalty was awarded six minutes later, which was successfully scored by M. Mahendran. Fook Loke then managed to secure another goal and Malaysia’s victory.