THE Youth and Sports Ministry hopes the Year of the Rat will bring the country luck to win its first Olympic gold, its deputy minister Steven Sim Chee Keong said.

He said it was the hope of all Malaysians that the wait for the country’s first Olympic gold medal would end this year.

“I am confident that all athletes, sports officials, the Olympic Council of Malaysia and national sports associations are working hard to fulfil the people’s aspiration. We will continue to give our support to the athletes in their pursuit of glory.