2025 SEA Games: Women’s Rugby 7s Squad Targets Final With High-tempo Strategy

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 3 (Bernama) -- The national women’s rugby sevens (7s) squad is emphasising on speed as their main identity ahead of the 2025 SEA Games in Thailand, scheduled to take place from Dec 9 to 20.

Senior national player Nur Izzah Azizan said speed would allow Malaysia to maintain a high tempo and challenge teams such as Thailand, Singapore and the Philippines.

She said the squad’s preparations began as early as January, with intensive training and tactical sessions focusing on teamwork and physical endurance to ensure each player was able to fully optimise their speed advantage on the field.

“Although most of our players are smaller in size, we have better speed compared to other teams. That is what makes Malaysia special,” said the Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) student in the Master of Facility Maintenance programme, who will be making her second appearance after the 2019 edition in the Philippines, when met by Bernama.

In the Philippines, she helped the team win the bronze medal after beating Indonesia 19-12 in the third-place playoff.

For this edition, Nur Izzah is one of only two senior players in the squad with SEA Games experience, while the majority are new faces, absorbed from last year’s Malaysia Games (SUKMA).

She said the team is confident of reaching the final, considering the strength and advantages of hosts Thailand, who were the defending champions.

“After being with the squad since January, we feel the target of reaching the final is realistic, but we must maintain our spirit right up to match day,” said the 26-year-old Kuala Lumpur-born athlete.

Nur Izzah began her sporting career as a track and field athlete in the 100-metre event, competing at the state level.

However, the eldest of four siblings did not expect that stepping into rugby would open wider opportunities at the highest level.

Recalling how she started playing rugby, she said the opportunity arose when women’s rugby began to grow in Malaysia following the 2017 SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur.

“I attended a try-out session and managed to play for Selangor. In the same year, I was selected to play for the national squad.

“I actually started in athletics, but rugby highlights teamwork and strategy. It helped me understand myself better and sharpen my interpersonal skills in a team sport,” she said.

-- BERNAMA