Malaysia’s sepak takraw team wins gold after 34 years, while badminton and pencak silat also deliver victories on a successful day at the Thailand SEA Games
THE Malaysian contingent enjoyed a splendid day at the 2025 Thailand SEA Games, recording several sweet victories across various events.
The highlight was ending a 34-year drought in the men’s sepak takraw team regu title.
The national sepak takraw squad, coached by Ahmad Jais Baharom, defeated traditional rivals Thailand 2-1 in the final held at the Nakhon Pathom Gymnasium in Chonburi.
This historic triumph ended Malaysia’s wait since the 1991 SEA Games in Manila, while also ending Thailand’s long-standing dominance.
National women’s top doubles pair Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah also brought cheer by ending Malaysia’s 10-year gold medal drought in badminton.
They overcame Indonesia’s Febriana Dwipuji Kusuma and Meilysa Trias Puspitasari in a thrilling 86-minute match in Pathum Thani.
In pencak silat, national exponent Nur Syafiqah Hamzah created a memorable moment by clinching the squad’s maiden SEA Games gold medal.
Nur Syafiqah won the women’s single event with a score of 9.960 points in the final held at the Impact Arena, Muang Thong Thani.
The national contingent’s success was also boosted by experienced shooter Johnathan Wong, who defended his gold medal in the men’s 10 metre air pistol event.
The Olympian amassed a total of 237.8 points at the Sports Authority of Thailand Shooting Range, repeating his achievement from the 2021 edition.
However, Malaysia’s challenge in badminton saw the national men’s top doubles pair Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik miss out on a second gold medal.
The 2022 world champions lost to Indonesia’s Sabar Karyaman Gutama and Moh Reza Pahlevi Isfahani 14-21, 17-21 in 44 minutes.
This result meant badminton fell short of its four-gold target for the Games.
The national contingent will continue its mission to hunt for 200 medals regardless of colour.
Focus tomorrow will be on athletics events involving men’s long jump ace Andre Anura and Wan Muhammad Fazri Wan Zahari, who clocked the fastest time in the men’s 800m heats.
Wushu, pencak silat, tenpin bowling, shooting, snooker, swimming, cycling and archery are also seen as having medal potential.
These could further strengthen Malaysia’s position in the medal table with six days remaining before the biennial Games conclude.
Thailand remain at the top of the medal standings after collecting a total of 131 gold, 78 silver and 46 bronze medals.
They are followed by Indonesia with 39 gold, 56 silver and 51 bronze, and Vietnam with 34 gold, 33 silver and 64 bronze.
Malaysia are in fifth place with 20 gold, 23 silver and 69 bronze medals. – Bernama
