Why isn't Wai Ching recognised, though he towers over the world?

New Straits Times

14-05-2025

KUALA LUMPUR: When we talk about world-class Malaysian athletes, the usual names that spring to mind are Olympic medallists, badminton champions, bowlers, squash players.
But while the spotlight stays fixed on the usual courts and arenas, one Malaysian has been quietly conquering the world in a very different setting — stairwells.
Yes, stairwells.
Soh Wai Ching isn't just running up buildings for fun.
He's the undisputed world No. 1 in tower running, a brutal test of endurance and power where competitors race up skyscrapers in some of the biggest cities on the planet.
From the One World Trade Centre (2,226 steps) in New York to the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, Wai Ching has scaled them all — winning, breaking records and flying the Malaysian flag in places where most would struggle to climb just one flight without gasping for air.
He's not just competing. He's dominating.
Last year alone, Wai Ching took part in 38 races worldwide. He won 30 of them and set 26 course records.
It's an impressive run of success, especially for a man who only picked up the sport in 2017.
And yet, despite being the best in the world, the 31-year-old wasn't even shortlisted nor nominated for the 2024 National Sports Awards, which was held on Tuesday.
However, he was recognised for the 2022 awards, when he was honoured with a special award for being world No. 1.
Let that sink in.
While athletes in more mainstream sports receive applause, endorsements and the full support of sporting institutions, Wai Ching continues to train, travel, and compete with minimal backing, often funding his own flights and accommodation to participate in events around the world.
He doesn't complain. He doesn't court attention. He just keeps running. But why isn't he being recognised?
The National Sports Awards were created to honour the country's finest sporting achievements. Not the most popular athletes. Not the best-funded. Not the most televised.
If performance, consistency, and international success are the true yardsticks, then Wai Ching ticks every box than some.
Tower running may not yet be an Olympic sport, but it's no novelty act. It's a legitimate, highly competitive international discipline governed by the Towerrunning World Association, with elite athletes vying for world ranking points.
Wai Ching doesn't just turn up and do well, he tops the world rankings year after year.
Imagine if a Malaysian badminton player was world No.1 for two straight seasons. There would be parades, media specials, maybe even a Datukship.
But for tower running? Not even a mention.
This isn't about pitting sports against each other. No one is suggesting that Olympic medallists like Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik don't deserve their honours. They've done the country proud, especially after retaining their bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Games.
But Malaysia must broaden its idea of sporting greatness. Just because a sport isn't on TV every weekend doesn't mean its athletes aren't world-class.
Wai Ching's omission is more than just an oversight. It's a worrying sign that we still judge athletes by the visibility of their sport, rather than the scale of their achievements.
It also sends the wrong message to our younger generation that unless you're in a sport with big sponsors, TV deals and Olympic status, you don't stand a chance of national recognition.
That's not only unfair, it's short-sighted. Especially when you consider that tower running could soon be included in the Olympics.
The International Olympic Committee has already opened the door to host nations, adding sports that reflect local interests and innovation.
If this happens, Malaysia could find itself with a genuine gold medal contender in Wai Ching.
So why wait until then? He's already proven himself as the best in the world. He's already raised the Jalur Gemilang at podiums from Taipei to Tokyo, Chicago to Seoul.
What more does he have to do?
The National Sports Awards should honour merit, not marketing. They should celebrate athletes who excel on the world stage, regardless of whether they play with a racquet, a ball, or a stopwatch in a stairwell.
Wai Ching has earned his moment in the spotlight. His story is not just one of medals and trophies. It's a story of perseverance, self-belief and national pride.
He represents what's possible when talent meets tenacity even without the trappings of mainstream support.
He's not asking for praise. But he deserves it.
It's time Malaysia stopped ignoring excellence simply because it doesn't look familiar. It's time the sports awards honoured the man who took the stairs and reached the top.
It's time we took the stairs with Wai Ching.