Malaysia Sets 200-Medal Target For 2025 SEA Games - CDM Nurul Huda

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 3 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian contingent has set a 200-medal target for the 2025 SEA Games in Thailand, scheduled from Dec 9 to 20.

Chef de mission Nurul Huda Abdullah said the target was based on data derived from past and current performances of national athletes.

“This is a realistic number and one that we are accountable for. We hope that our athletes will stay focused and consistent during the Games and then bring as many medals back for Malaysia as they can.

“Across the board, all our teams have reported that they are very, very well prepared. They are all looking forward to the Games and they are ready to take on this challenge and ready to perform to their best,” she told a press conference after the Jalur Gemilang handover ceremony to the national contingent here today.

The 200-medal target is the highest ever set outside Kuala Lumpur in 18 years, with the previous best achieved in Korat (Thailand) in 2007 when Malaysia secured a total of 216 medals.

Malaysia bagged 322 medals in total when they last hosted the Games in 2017.

In the meantime, Nurul Huda announced that the flag bearers for the Malaysian team at the 33rd SEA Games opening ceremony scheduled in Rajamangala National Stadium, Bangkok, would be carried by Andre Anura Anuar from athletics and waterski ace, Aaliyah Yoong Hanifah.

“Both of them are highly experienced, proven performers, and have consistently represented Malaysia on the international stage with pride and with honor,” said the former swimming great.

Meanwhile,  National Sports Council (NSC) director general Jefri Ngadirin said that a top five finish in the overall medal tally should be realistic for Malaysian team to achieve for in Thailand.

He also believed that Malaysia could achieve the 200-medal target and make amends of their worst performance in the last edition in Phnom Penh, when they returned home with 34 golds, 45 silvers and 96 bronzes.

“With the addition of sports we are strong in such as squash, tenpin bowling and track cyling, we should do better than Cambodia,” he said.

However, Jefri acknowledged the fact that Thailand’s target of getting more than 200 254 gold medals is unprecedented in SEA Games history and clearly reflects a strong home-ground strategy, especially with 574 golds up for grabs.

He said such a massive haul would leave fewer opportunities for other nations, meaning countries like Malaysia would face an added challenge in meeting their own gold medal targets if the hosts swept more than 200 events.

Malaysia is scheduled to compete in all 50 sports and send a total of 1,142 athletes and 515 officials.

The 2025 SEA Games is slated to be held across two provinces: Bangkok and Chonburi.

In another development, Malaysia have set the target of securing 181 medals for the 2025 ASEAN Para Games to be held in Korat, Thailand, from Jan 20-26, according to its CDM Mohd Zarrawi Ravi Abdullah.

Earlier NSC announced that two athletes Muhammad Akmal Danish Mohamad Supi of powerlifting and para shuttler Nurzammiezatul Syafiqqah Mohamad Zamberi as the flag bearers for Malaysia in the opening ceremony of 2025 APG.

The country will be sending 236 athletes and 117 officials to the event.

-- BERNAMA