Sukan Asia 1966: Kedudukan Tertinggi Malaysia
Secara keseluruhan, Malaysia berjaya menduduki tempat ke-4 di Sukan Asia Bangkok 1966. Ia kekal sebagai rekod ranking tertinggi Malaysia dalam kejohanan tersebut. Kejayaan ini tercapai setelah atlet Malaysia merangkul 7 pingat emas, 5 perak, dan 6 gangsa. Daripada 204 ahli kontinjen, pemain hoki negara, M. Doraisamy dipilih sebagai pembawa bendera untuk majlis perasmian Sukan Asia 1966.
Pelari pecut Mani Jegathesan berjaya membawa pulang tiga pingat emas dalam acara-acara beliau bertanding, termasuk 100m dan 200m, serta 4x100m bersama T. Krishnan, Mohd Ariffin Ahmad dan G. Ramalingam. Masa mereka iaitu 40.6s merupakan rekod kejohanan baharu. Pada pusing separuh akhir acara 100m, semua terkejut apabila atlet dari Singapura C. Kunalan menewaskan Jegathesan buat kali pertama dengan perbezaan masa 0.1s. Namun, Jegathesan bangkit semula untuk memastikan pingat emas menjadi milik beliau pada peringkat akhir dengan catatan masa 10.5s.
Mary Rajamani memecahkan rekod kejohanan dalam acara 400m (56.3s) manakala Nashatar Singh Sidhu memenangi pingat emas dalam acara rejam lembing. Dalam larian jarak menengah pula, R. Subramaniam meraih dua pingat perak dalam acara 800m dan 1500m.
Selain itu, pingat-pingat individu dalam olahraga dimenangi oleh T. Krishnan (200m, gangsa), Ishtiaq Mubarak (110m lari berpagar, gangsa), dan Nathan Andyappan (400m lari berpagar, gangsa). Sementara itu, Malaysia memenangi perak dalam acara 4x400m lari berganti-ganti lelaki (Victor Asirvatham, P. Rengan, Nathan Andyappan, T. Krishnan) dan gangsa bagi acara 4x400m lari berganti-ganti wanita (Mary Rajamani, Cheryl Dorall, Jacqueline Kleinmen, Rajemah Sheikh Ahmad).
Pasukan badminton Malaysia, yang diketuai dan dilatih oleh Eddy Choong dan baru sahaja memenangi Zon Asia Piala Thomas menentang India (8-1) pada bulan sebelumnya, berjaya memperoleh empat pingat secara keseluruhan. Ng Boon Bee & Tan Yee Khan memenangi emas dalam acara beregu lelaki manakala pasukan lelaki Malaysia memenangi pingat perak. Dalam acara beregu campuran, Malaysia membawa pulang kedua-dua pingat emas (Teh Kew San & Rosalind Singha Ang) dan perak (Eddy Choong & Tan Gaik Bee).
Dua lagi pingat gangsa dimenangi oleh Ahmad Mokhtar dan Terence Stahlman dalam sukan tinju.
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Malaysia placed 4th overall at the 1966 Bangkok Asian Games, which remains as the record for the nation’s highest ranking in the tournament yet. The results include a total of 7 gold, 5 silver, and 6 bronze medals. From the 204-strong contingent, hockey player M. Doraisamy was chosen as flag bearer for the official ceremony.
Mani Jegathesan brought home three gold medals in his events, including 100m and 200m, as well as 4x100m with T. Krishnan, Mohd Ariffin Ahmad, and G. Rajalingam. Their time of 40.6s made a new games record. There was a shock during the 100m semi-finals where Singapore’s C. Kunalan defeated Jegathesan for the first time by 0.1s. However, Jegathesan bounced back strong to ensure the gold medal was his in the finals with a time of 10.5s.
Mary Rajamani also set a new games record for 400m (56.3s) while Nashatar Singh Sidhu won gold in javelin throw. Middle-distance runner R. Subramaniam claimed two silver medals for himself in the 800m and 1500m events.
The remaining individual medals in athletics were won by T. Krishnan (200m, bronze), Ishtiaq Mubarak (110m hurdles, bronze), Nathan Andyappan (400m hurdles, bronze). Meanwhile, Malaysia won silver for Men’s 4x400m relay (Victor Asirvatham, P. Rengan, Nathan Andyappan, T. Krishnan) and bronze for Women’s 4x400m relay (Mary Rajamani, Cheryl Dorall, Jacqueline Kleinmen, Rajemah Sheikh Ahmad).
The Malaysian badminton team, captained and coached by Eddy Choong, was fresh from their Thomas Cup Asian Zone win against India (8-1) the month prior. The team managed to secure four medals in total. Ng Boon Bee & Tan Yee Khan won gold for Men’s Doubles while the Men’s Team won silver. In the mixed doubles event, Malaysia brought home both gold (Teh Kew San & Rosalind Singha Ang) and silver (Eddy Choong & Tan Gaik Bee).
Two more bronze medals were won in boxing by Ahmad Mokhtar and Terence Stahlman.
