For generations, Malaysian athletes have inspired the nation with their determination, discipline and pursuit of excellence. Today, a new wave of young sporting talents is carrying that legacy forward, breaking records, earning international recognition and proving that the future of Malaysian sports is in competent hands. From pickleball courts to swimming pools and race tracks, these rising stars are not only achieving remarkable success at a young age but also inspiring the next generation to dream bigger. In no particular order, Top 10 of Malaysia spotlights ten young athletes who are shaping the future of Malaysian sports and making the nation proud on the global stage.
Steve Khiew
Steve Khiew is one of Malaysia’s leading swimmers, specialising in freestyle and backstroke events. Born in 2002, he has represented the nation at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in the men’s 400m freestyle event. A multiple SEA Games gold medallist, Steve has enjoyed consistent success on both regional and international stages. At the 33rd SEA Games in Thailand, he captured gold medals in the men’s 200m and 400m freestyle events, while also contributing to Malaysia’s relay achievements. His accomplishments extend beyond Southeast Asia, having reached finals at both the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games, highlighting his status among the continent’s top swimmers. In 2025, Steve set a new Malaysian national record in the 400m freestyle with a time of 3:47.38, earning silver at the FISU World University Games. Beyond his sporting career, he is pursuing a degree in computer science at UCSI University, balancing academic excellence with elite athletic performance.
Aruwin Salehhuddin Oly
In a nation better known for its tropical climate than snowy mountains, Aruwin Salehhuddin rose as a trailblazer for Malaysian winter sports. At just 17 years old, she made history as the first female and youngest athlete to represent Malaysia at a Winter Olympic Games, competing in alpine skiing at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. Since then, Aruwin has continued to break new ground on the international stage. At the 2025 Harbin Asian Winter Games, she achieved Malaysia’s highest-ever placement at the event with a remarkable fourth-place finish. She further cemented her place in the nation’s sporting history by competing at the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, becoming Malaysia’s first two-time female Winter Olympian. As one of only three Malaysians to have competed at a Winter Olympics, Aruwin is redefining what is possible for athletes from tropical nations. With unwavering determination, she continues her pursuit of excellence and her dream of becoming a world-class alpine skier.
Amer Harris
At just 22 years old, Amer Harris has already established himself as one of Malaysia’s most promising motorsport talents. A three-time Asian Karting Champion and the first motorsport athlete to become a brand partner of CIMB, he has built an impressive portfolio that spans karting, touring cars and endurance racing. His journey began in karting at the age of nine before progressing to professional competition two years later. Following a standout performance in the ART Asia Talent Cup, he was recruited by Nizra Motorsports, where he went on to secure three Asian karting titles and represented Malaysia at the Rotax Max World Finals in 2019. After the pandemic temporarily disrupted his racing career, Amer rebuilt his momentum through international karting and the Toyota Gazoo Racing Malaysia Rookie Programme. He later joined Wing Hin Motorsports, winning the prestigious Sepang 1000KM endurance race. A member of the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia Talent Pool, he also achieved a podium finish on debut at Shanghai GP. Today, he continues to compete internationally, representing Wing Hin Motorsports in Japan’s highly regarded Super Taikyu Championship.
Nurul Izzah Izzati Mohd Asri
Nurul Izzah Izzati is recognised as one of Malaysia’s most promising track cycling talents, earning the nickname “Pocket Rocketwoman” for her explosive speed and competitive spirit. From a young age, she demonstrated exceptional potential, quickly progressing from regional success to competing among Asia’s elite cyclists. Her breakthrough came at the 2022 Asian Track Cycling Championships in New Delhi, where she made history by becoming the first Malaysian woman to win a gold medal in the elite 500m time trial. She continued her impressive rise in 2024 by ending Malaysia’s 12-year wait for a women’s elite keirin gold at the Asian Championships, while also adding silver in the team sprint and bronze in the individual sprint. Nurul Izzah further cemented her status on the international stage by qualifying for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, becoming only the second Malaysian female track cyclist to achieve the feat and advancing to the knockout rounds. Her achievements have also earned her recognition as Best Sportswoman at the Malaysian University Sports Council (Masum) Awards.
Jimmy Liong Kai Long
Widely regarded as one of Malaysia’s top pickleball players, Jimmy Liong has played a pivotal role in elevating the sport’s profile both nationally and across Asia. Ranked among the country’s elite athletes, he is an officially signed Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) athlete who has represented Malaysia at regional and international competitions against some of the world’s leading professionals. Jimmy is also an ambassador for Franklin Sports, a globally recognised pickleball brand that has supported his development and growth as a professional athlete throughout his career. Beyond his success on the court, he is a driving force behind Malaysia’s growing pickleball ecosystem as the owner of Sportsdeal Asia, one of the country’s leading pickleball retail chains. He is also the co-founder of Infinity Sports Academy and the Malaysia Super Pickleball League (MSPL), helping to nurture future talent and advance the professionalisation of the sport. Through his achievements as an athlete, entrepreneur and advocate, Jimmy continues to contribute significantly to the growth of pickleball in Malaysia and the region.
Alister Yoong
From Formula 4 circuits in Asia to endurance racing tracks across Europe, Alister Yoong has steadily built a reputation as one of Malaysia’s most versatile young motorsport talents. Beginning his career in karting, he quickly progressed through the ranks of single-seater racing, securing race victories and podium finishes while showcasing the skill and adaptability that would define his career. Alister expanded into touring cars, GT racing, endurance competition and esports, gaining valuable experience across multiple forms of motorsport. In 2022, he represented Team Malaysia at the FIA Motorsport Games in Marseille, France, competing alongside the nation’s top drivers on the international stage. Following success in Asian prototype racing, including victories in the Indian Racing League, he made his European prototype racing debut in the Italian Sport Prototypes Championship in 2023. Today, Alister continues to compete internationally, pursuing his ambition of becoming a world-class endurance racing driver while proudly carrying forward Malaysia’s motorsport legacy.
Shahmalarani Chandran
Few Malaysian karate athletes have achieved the level of success and consistency demonstrated by Shahmalarani Chandran. Widely regarded as one of the nation’s finest karateka, she has built an outstanding career highlighted by three SEA Games gold medals, multiple national titles and historic achievements on the international stage. Shahmalarani is the first and only Malaysian to win the prestigious World Karate1 Series A championship three times, while also becoming the country’s only athlete to secure both a medal and a gold medal in the competition. Her accomplishments extend to the continental and world levels, having won medals at the Asian Karate Federation (AKF) Championships and World Karate Federation (WKF) World Championships, becoming only the second Malaysian to reach a world championship final. In 2025, she achieved a career-best world ranking inside the top five. Beyond competition, Shahmalarani is equally committed to education and mentorship, earning a Master’s degree with first-class honours and inspiring more than 1,000 students through teaching, coaching and authorship.
Naquib Azlan
Naquib Azlan has emerged as one of Malaysia’s brightest motorsport prospects, building an impressive career that bridges the worlds of virtual and real-world racing. He first made his mark in competitive e-sports in 2020, where his exceptional talent quickly attracted the attention of former Formula One driver Alex Yoong, who later became a key mentor in his development. Representing Malaysia on the international stage, Naquib achieved notable success in sim racing, including back-to-back gold medals at the Asia Pacific Motorsport Championship in 2023 and 2025. His transition to circuit racing came through the Toyota Gazoo Racing Malaysia Young Talent Development Programme, where he demonstrated remarkable consistency by capturing multiple championship titles. He also claimed victory in the prestigious Sepang 1000KM endurance race in 2022 and added championship wins in Thailand and Japan. In 2026, he reached another milestone by joining Team Porsche Malaysia to compete in the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia, becoming one of the region’s leading examples of a successful sim-to-real racing pathway.
Ashley Lau Jen Wen
Ashley Lau has surfaced as one of Malaysia’s brightest golfing talents, steadily making her mark on the international stage through a series of historic achievements. Competing professionally on the Epson Tour in the United States and the WPGA Tour of Australasia, the Sarawak-born golfer continues to raise the profile of Malaysian golf around the world. In 2024, Ashley made history as the first golfer from Sarawak to qualify for the Olympic Games, securing her place at the Paris 2024 Olympics after finishing 50th in the final World Olympic Golf Rankings. She went on to represent Malaysia in Paris and was later selected as the nation’s flag bearer for the closing ceremony. The same year, she captured her first major professional title at the Women’s Victorian Open, a breakthrough victory that accelerated her rise in the world rankings. With strong performances on the Epson Tour, including a runner-up finish at the 2024 Tour Championship, Ashley continues to represent the country on the greens, establishing herself as a leading figure in Malaysian golf.
Sivasangari Subramaniam
Widely regarded as the heir to Malaysia’s rich squash legacy, Sivasangari Subramaniam has become one of the country’s most accomplished athletes on the international stage. The Malaysian star reached a career-high ranking of World No. 5, making her the highest-ranked Malaysian player since squash legend Nicol David. A graduate of an Ivy League university, she has built an impressive resume that includes major PSA Tour titles such as the 2024 London Squash Classic and the 2026 Grasshopper Cup. Her triumph in London was particularly historic, as she became the first Malaysian since Nicol David in 2015 to win a PSA Gold-level tournament, defeating several of the world’s top-ranked players along the way. Her journey has also been marked by remarkable resilience, overcoming a serious car accident in 2022 before returning to reach new career heights.