National Men's, Women's Indoor Hockey Teams End Campaign With Silver, Again

From Ahmad Nazrin Syahmi Mohamad Arif

BANGKOK, Dec 19 (Bernama) -- There was a sense of deja vu as Malaysia suffered a double blow in indoor hockey in the SEA Games Thailand 2025 when both the men's and women's teams lost in their respective finals at the Bangkok Youth Centre here today.

The men's team did well to hold 2023 edition gold medallist Indonesia to a 4-4 draw in regulation time before succumbing 2-0 on penalties, while the women were edged 4-3 by Thailand, who also won gold at the previous edition in Cambodia.

In the men's final, Indonesia, guided by former national hockey coach Muhammad Dharma Raj Abdullah, led 2-0 courtesy of a brace by Yuan Jodie, before Malaysia narrowed the deficit through Meor Muhamad Azuan Hasan.

Indonesia restored their two-goal lead when Revo Priliandro netted their third goal, but Malaysia fought back to make it 3-3 through Mohamad Ashran Hamsani and Muhammad Najmi Farizal Jazlan.

Malaysia went 4-3 ahead in the third quarter thanks to Shahmie Irfan Suhaimi, but Revo Priliandro scored again to make it 4-4 in the fourth quarter, forcing the game to be decided on penalties.

Indonesian goalkeeper Alam Fajar emerged as the hero in the shootout when he saved Abdul Khaliq Hamirin and Muhammad Najmi Farizal Jazlan's attempts to ensure Malaysia ended up with the silver once again.

In the women's final, Thailand went ahead through Wilawan Duangwao, but goals from Raja Norsharina and Nor Asfarina Isahiyifiqa saw Malaysia take a 2-1 lead.

Undaunted, Thailand moved up a gear and equalised Jiratchaya Todkaew before pulling away to a 4-2 lead with goals from Tikhamporn Sakulpithak and Jiratchaya, again.

Although Malaysia pulled a goal back through Nor Asfarina Isahiyifiqa, it proved to be too little, too late.

Malaysia last made a clean sweep of both the gold medals at the 2019 edition in the Philippines.

Indoor hockey was first contested at the 2017 edition in Kuala Lumpur, where the men's team made history by clinching the gold medal, while the women's team settled for bronze.

-- BERNAMA