Nagoya:The National Sports Council's Podium Programme has significantly impacted Taj Izrin Aiman Taj Madira, who has made history as Malaysia's first esports representative to secure a gold medal at the Asian Games. Competing in the Gran Turismo 7 event at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 edition in Japan, Taj Izrin emerged victorious, marking a milestone achievement for the country's esports community.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Malaysian Esports Federation president Muhammad Naim Al Amin Saharudin highlighted that Taj Izrin was among the first national esports athletes to benefit from the Podium Programme in recent months. He expressed gratitude for the hard work of both the player and the coach, acknowledging the programme's role in this success.

Muhammad Naim further mentioned that the Podium Programme has been instrumental, with Gran Turismo 7 being one of the first events included. He hoped Taj Izrin's success would inspire other national esports athletes to perform well in Japan.

Taj Izrin secured the GT7 gold medal after demonstrating disciplined driving across three races at the Aichi Sky Expo. Saudi Arabia's Naif Abdulhakim S. Alfaleh took silver, while South Korea's Kim Youngchan won bronze.

This achievement is Malaysia's second gold at the Games, following national women's karate athlete Adeola Fay Robert's victory. Malaysia is participating in nine of the 11 esports events at the Games, aiming for at least five medals. In the previous Hangzhou edition in 2022, they won silver and bronze in other esports categories. The Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya will conclude on October 4.