Malaysia’s sepaktakraw squad aims to break Thailand’s dominance and win two gold medals at the 2025 SEA Games in Nakhon Pathom.
KUALA LUMPUR: The national men’s sepaktakraw squad has been tasked with a historic mission to defeat Thailand on its home turf at the upcoming SEA Games.
The Malaysian Sepaktakraw Federation (PSM) has set a target of two gold medals for the tournament in Thailand from December 9 to 20.
PSM president Datuk Mohd Sumali Reduan said the goal of beating the traditional rivals is realistic based on past successes in other major tournaments.
“We have won SEA Games gold before, but without Thailand,” he said at a team gathering here.
He stated that winning gold by defeating the host nation would be the “sweetest and most satisfying achievement.”
The national camp is specifically targeting gold in the men’s regu and men’s quadrant events.
It also aims for a final berth in the men’s team regu, which will be the opening medal event of the competition at Nakhon Pathom Stadium Gymnasium.
Mohd Sumali suggested the schedule change could be part of the host’s psychological strategy.
He said an early gold could boost Malaysian morale for the rest of the competition.
“We have been waiting for a long time after several attempts to break down Thailand’s ‘great wall’ in the team regu,” he added.
Malaysia’s medal haul has improved over recent SEA Games editions.
The team won four silvers and four bronzes in Cambodia 2023, up from three silvers and two bronzes in Hanoi 2021.
Its last gold medal was secured in the men’s regu at the 2017 Kuala Lumpur Games. – Bernama
