YOURSAY 'She's the perfect answer to the question, ‘Who comes after Lee Chong Wei?' At 19, she has a long and exciting career ahead of her.'

Pandelela claws back to deliver bronze, makes history

Jimmy Ng: Well done, Pandelela Rinong Pamg. You are truly a Malaysian heroine! Despite suffering a poor start, you came back strongly. That alone speaks immensely of your character.

Dusunkui: Congratulations! I sacrificed my sleep and stayed awake until early yesterday morning. In fact, Pandelela made a little mistake in the first round, otherwise silver ‘dalam tangan' (in hand).

So where is the media hoo-ha? Maybe it's because we are in East Malaysia.

Unspin: This is to put into perspective why winning a medal - of any colour - at any Olympics is a great achievement:

There are seven billion people in the world. If we were to exclude people who are living in poverty (about 50 percent), children, old folks and those who have won Olympic medals before, Pandelela's bronze medal is simply astonishing and no superlative words can best describe her achievement. Bravo!

Changeagent: Well done to Pandelela and Lee Chong Wei - our two heroic medallists from the London Games 2012. You really deserve all the accolades accorded to both of you.

But to the Malaysian government and sporting authorities, I hope you are not resting on your laurels on the back of our two medallists.

Even Australia, with 29 medals so far, including six gold, consider their campaign to be largely unsuccessful. And they even have a smaller population than us.

Starr: Pandelela Rinong Pamg provides the perfect answer to the question, 'who comes after Lee Chong Wei?' At 19, she will have a long and exciting career ahead of her.

Jin Lama: Are our leaders inside and outside politics ‘buta' (blind)? Can't they see that the country needs such achievers? They are a powerful force in unifying the people, the comments in Malaysiakini and elsewhere speak for themselves.

There are too many dinosaurs in the country's sporting bodies, who are there merely to enjoy the trappings of the positions and have refused to make way for new blood.

Worse still, some have even turned it into a family affair, with the son taking over from the father. Pandelela's sport has yet to be tainted by these idiots. Well done, Pandelela.

Adaotak: Congratulations, Pandelela. We are very, very proud of you. Your determination and hard work pay in the end. Well done!

CCSAN: Diving is a more popular sport than badminton as the number of countries involved in diving are many more than those in badminton. Indeed, Pandelela had to compete with divers from all over the world.

In that sense, the bronze medal she has won is worth, if not more but at least equal, to that of the silver and bronze Malaysia have won in the past.

The point is what about other sports bodies? Have they produced any world beaters yet?

Centurion: Tenacity is thy name.

Anonymous #42582403: Congratulations, Pandalela. ‘Sarawak Boleh!' I wonder what the White Hair (Sarawak CM Abdul Taib Mahmud) is going to give her for this great achievement.

Don't Play-Play: People who really appreciate Pandelela's success and keep harping that she deserves cash rewards should not wait for any other party to give first.

If opposition leaders Tony Pua and Rafizi Ramli can get generous donations from Pakatan supporters for their ‘crimes', why can't a sports star like Pandelela get her fair share of attention and rewards from proud Pakatan supporters?

ONG: Don't Play-Play, you are still as ‘bodoh' as ever. We are all rejoicing Pandelela's success and you butt in with your stupid political statements. Get lost and don't bring politics into this issue.

Justice Pao: Don't Play-Play, you should ask Pek Moh (Taib Mahumd) to donate his kitty money - which is probably more money than what Pakatan supporters can contribute. Besides, Pek Moh's money belongs to the people of Sarawak!

Trying To Be Smart: Well done Pandelela, you are our darling! That's the beauty of sports. It cuts across racial barriers and puts us on the road to enlightenment.

May I suggest that each one of us, irrespective of our political leaning, contribute RM10 (minimum) to reward her for the joy and pride that she brought us?

Someone then must start the ball rolling to open a bank account in her name, where contributions can be made through the cash deposit machine. Any volunteer, please?

Anonymous #24327826: Like so many Malaysians, we cheered for Pandelela. What was most encouraging about this young woman is that she did not give up after starting poorly.

I do hope the country and Sarawak will reward her handsomely for her gigantic effort.

Headhunter: Both Pandelela and her family have sacrificed a lot, with her being away from her home in Kuching to be trained in Kuala Lumpur from a very young age.

Her father is a construction worker and her mother a housewife. A medium-cost house for her family would do nicely. Sarawakians are proud of her feat and wish her the best.

Odin: Headhunter, a medium-cost house? It should be a top-notch detached one and at the very least, on a 10-acre site.

But, of course, she is a Dayak. They'll give her, perhaps, peanuts.

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