Malaysia is one of the most well-known Southeast Asian countries, not just for their culture but as one of the best tourist destinations in the region. One of the biggest factors that keep this multi-cultural country together is the fact that its people have a shared love for sports.

Malaysians love different sports. They play various types of sports, including badminton, bowling, field hockey, tennis, squash, golf, horse riding, sailing, martial arts and skate boarding. But when it comes to sports, one sport in particular has a somewhat universal appeal for Malaysians and that is football.

The Malaysian national football team, the Harimau Malaysia, first made their international dent when they took the 2010 AFF Suzuki Cup. Malaysia also took the gold 2009 and 2011 Southeast Asian Games and qualified 2007 AFC Asian Cup as well as the Asian Cup (1976 and 1980). As of the start of 2015, Malaysia ranks at 154th in the FIFA World Ranking and their women are at 88th as of the end of 2014.

School kids racing in Malaysia

School kids racing in Malaysia

"Malaysia's badminton program has consistently produced world-class athletes, with the sport serving as the nation's strongest pathway to Olympic success. The development system has generated multiple world-class shuttlers who have competed at the highest international level."
— Robert Wood, founder of Topend Sports

Some of the most well-known athletes of Malaysia includes Datuk Soh Chin Aun, who was the youngest player to be part of the national team at 21 was often referred to as "Tauke" (boss) by his teammates because of his commanding presence in the field and lead his team in the 1980 Summer Olympics held in Moscow. But when it comes to football, no Malaysian can ever forget the "Supermokh", Datuk Mokhtar Dahari. He was the most recognizable name in Malaysian football in the 1970's and helped the national team score a total on 125 goals in international games in 167 caps.

Below are details of sports, sporting events and sports people related to Malaysia.

Popular Sports of Malaysia

  • Football (Soccer), Badminton, Tenpin Bowling, field hockey, tennis, squash, golf, horse riding, sailing, martial arts.

Pro Tip: For visitors wanting to experience Malaysian sports culture, attending a badminton tournament at the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur provides an electric atmosphere. The Malaysia Open is one of the premier events on the BWF World Tour calendar.

Malaysia's Sporting Success

  • 2010 AFF Suzuki Cup
  • Malaysia won 1 silver medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics
  • Malaysia won 1 silver and 1 bronze at the 2012 London Olympics
  • Malaysia won 5 medals at the Rio 2016 Olympics (4 silver and 1 bronze)
  • Malaysia won 1 silver and 1 bronze at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics
  • Malaysia won 2 bronze medals at the Paris 2024 Olympics
  • Malaysia won 231 medals at the 2025 SEA Games (57 golds, 57 silvers, and 117 bronze medals)

2025 SEA Games Success

Malaysia won an impressive 231 medals at the 2025 SEA Games, including 57 gold medals, demonstrating the country's growing strength across multiple sporting disciplines in the region.

Malaysia Olympic History →
"Malaysia's impressive 231-medal haul at the 2025 SEA Games reflects the nation's growing investment in athlete development across multiple sporting disciplines. This kind of multi-sport success demonstrates a maturing sports system beyond traditional strengths in badminton and football."
— Robert J. Wood, PhD, Founder of Topend Sports
"Football serves as a powerful unifying force in Malaysia's diverse multi-cultural society. The national team's regional achievements, including the 2010 AFF Suzuki Cup victory, generated some of the highest levels of sporting engagement in Southeast Asia."
— Sports science expert Robert Wood

Great Athletes from Malaysia

  • Datuk Mokhtar Dahari (football)
  • Datuk Soh Chin Aun (football)
  • Lee Chong Wei (badminton)
  • Nicol David (squash)
  • Siti Zalina Ahmad (bowling)

Badminton Legend Lee Chong Wei

Lee Chong Wei won three consecutive Olympic silver medals in badminton (2008, 2012, 2016) and was ranked world number one for a combined 349 weeks, making him one of the greatest badminton players in history.

Malaysia at the Olympics →

Malaysia Sports Trivia

  • Badminton is considered Malaysia's de facto national sport, with courts found in nearly every community across the country.

Malaysia at Major Events

Past Sporting Events Hosted in Malaysia

  • Southeast Asia Games (SEA) hosted in Malaysia in 1965, 1971, 1977, 1989, 2001 and 2017
  • 1998 Commonwealth Games Kuala Lumpur
  • 2007 AFC Asian Cup (soccer).
  • 2017 IWF Weightlifting World Championships will be held in Penang, Malaysia

Upcoming Sporting Events in Malaysia

  • 2027 SEA Games - This event will be held between September 18-29, 2027
  • Miri Marathon 2026 - This event will be held on April 12, 2026

2027 SEA Games

Malaysia will host the 2027 Southeast Asian Games from September 18-29, 2027, adding to the country's extensive history of hosting the region's premier multi-sport event.

Malaysia at Major Events →

Annual Sporting Events Held in Malaysia

  • The Malaysian Open
  • The Malaysian Grand Prix
  • The Malaysian Open Squash Championships

Sporting Facilities in Malaysia

Pro Tip: The National Sports Institute (Institut Sukan Negara) in Bukit Jalil offers tours and is adjacent to the national stadium, making it an excellent destination for sports enthusiasts visiting Kuala Lumpur.

Is there something missing? If you know of something that should be listed here, please let me know.