BANGKOK, Sept 16 — The Malaysian contingent is 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 — 30 gold, 31 silver, and 88 bronze — placing it fifth overall as of 10pm yesterday.
The contingent is also on course to surpass the 34 gold medals won in Cambodia two years ago, which marked the country’s poorest 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 today and offers four gold medals.
Squash is also currently ongoing, with four gold medals up for grabs.
Meanwhile, the main focus today 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 at the International Federation of Muaythai Associations (IFMA) Senior U23 World Championships from 2023-2025.
She 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 57kg 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.
Meanwhile, Malaysia added four gold medals yesterday through Megan Min Ern Ding (equestrian), Ong Chee Keng (shooting), Muhammad Rafiq Ismail-Muhammad Syazirol Shamsudin (men's bowling pair), and Muhammad Irfan Shamsuddin (discus).
Irfan stole the spotlight by defending his gold medal since the 2013 edition in Myanmar and breaking the Games record of 59.50m that had stood for 26 years, set by Wong Tuck Yim of Singapore in the 1999 edition in Brunei.
Experienced shooter Ong 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, followed by Indonesia (62) and Vietnam (48), while Singapore sit fourth with 37 gold medals.
