KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 19 — Medal-winning Olympians returning from Rio de Janeiro will come home to brand new Proton cars, the carmaker and its owner, DRB-HICOM, announced today.

The cars will vary according to the medals won, with gold medallists to be given the flagship Perdana executive sedan; silver medallists will get a Suprima 1.6 Turbo while bronze winners are set for the IRIZ 1.6L Premium.

"As DRB-HICOM and Proton had always carried the Malaysian flag in all that we do, this gesture is in line with our pride towards Jalur Gemilang,” said Datuk Seri Syed Faisal Albar, group managing director of DRB-HICOM and chairman of Proton.

"We hope that this will provide further encouragement to our athletes to strive harder to make our beloved Malaysia proud especially at the highest level such as the Olympics.”

Malaysia will have a chance at winning the gold medal tonight, when men's badminton doubles pair Goh V Shem and Tan Wee Kiong face off against China's Fu Haifeng-Zhang Nan at 10pm.

Mixed doubles pair Goh Liu Ying and Chan Peng Soon along with divers Pandelela Rinong and Cheong Jun have already won two silver medals for Malaysia.

Cyclist Azizulhasni Awang won a bronze medal in the keirin event.

The country is also hoping for yet another go at  a gold medal through badminton ace Datuk Lee Chong Wei, who will take on archival Lin Dan of China in the men's singles semifinal at 7.30pm tonight.