SEA Games: Malaysia On Track To Achieve 200-Medal Target
From Amiril Muttaqien Meketar
BANGKOK, Sept 16 (Bernama) — The Malaysian contingent appears to be on the right track to achieve the target of 200 medals set for the 2025 Thailand SEA Games.
With about five days remaining before the biennial sports event draws its curtain down at the Rajamangala National Stadium this Saturday, Malaysia has already accumulated 147 medals, comprising 30 gold, 31 silver, and 88 bronze, placing it in fifth position as of 10 pm tonight.
Furthermore, it is not impossible for the Malaysian contingent to surpass the achievement of 34 gold medals brought home from Cambodia two years ago, which was the country's worst performance at the biennial games.
Based on the opportunities available in sports dominated by the country at the regional level, Malaysia should have no problem adding to its medal tally, especially through diving which starts tomorrow and offers four gold medals, and squash, which is currently ongoing, with four gold medals up for grabs.
Meanwhile, the main focus tomorrow will be on Muay Thai, as six national representatives will be competing in the finals, including Yan Jia Chi, or better known as Angie, a three-time gold medal winner in the International Federation of Muaythai Associations (IFMA) Senior U23 World Championships from 2023-2025.
Angie will be competing in the women's individual waikru event. Malaysia will also be represented by national Muay Thai star Muhammad Johan Ghazali Zulfikar's younger brother, Muhammad Mikhail Ghazali, who will face a home favourite, Suphakon Sirilun, in the men's featherweight 57-kilogram (kg) event at the Lumpini Boxing Stadium.
The netball team is also scheduled to face traditional rival and causeway neighbour Singapore in an effort to hunt for a golden hat-trick, having last won the gold in the 2019 edition hosted by the Philippines. Netball was not contested in the 2021 and 2023 editions.
In the meantime, Malaysia added four gold medals, starting with Megan Min Ern Ding from equestrian, shooter Ong Chee Keng, the men's bowling pair Muhammad Rafiq Ismail-Muhammad Syazirol Shamsudin, and discus champion Muhammad Irfan Shamsuddin.
Muhammad Irfan stole the spotlight by defending his gold medal since the 2013 edition in Myanmar and also breaking the Games record of 59.50 meters (m) that had stood for 26 years, set by Wong Tuck Yim of Singapore in the 1999 edition in Brunei.
Experienced shooter Chee Keng made history by ending Malaysia's 32-year drought for a gold medal in the men's individual trap event at the Photharam Shooting Range, Ratchaburi.
The 44-year-old Sarawak-born shooter gunned down 39 points in the six-participant final, thus bringing home the country's first gold in the event since Heng Chai Yee achieved the same feat in the 1993 edition in Singapore.
Host Thailand are leading the pack with 160 gold, Indonesia are in second place with 62 and Vietnam are third on 48 while Singapore are in fourth spot with 37 gold medals.
-- BERNAMA
