KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 13 — The national men’s sepak takraw squad received a windfall of RM160,000 after winning one gold and one silver medal at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games.
The Malaysian Sepak Takraw Association (PSM) distributed the handsome reward to the 12 players and two coaches, who also received gold bars and shopping vouchers from strategic partner TM Group.
PSM president Datuk Mohd Sumali Reduan said the governing body wasn’t just going to wait around for the government’s reward scheme payout, and instead raised its own funds to reward the Golden Tigers’ sacrifices at the quadrennial Games.
“I think this is the first time in the history of Malaysian sepak takraw that players are being recognised with a fairly substantial sum.
“While we know that KBS (Youth and Sports Ministry) and MSN (National Sports Council) provide rewards and incentives under SHAKAM (National Sports Victory Reward Scheme), my responsibility and that of the PSM committee is to decide that we too must take the initiative. Even if it is not much, we are giving it to them,” he said after the reward presentation ceremony last night.
Also present were Olympic Council of Malaysia deputy president Datuk Nur Azmi Ahmad, MSN director-general Jefri Ngadirin, and National Sports Institute chief executive officer Vellapandian Ponnusamy.
Sumali said the reward was presented according to the association’s means, and that future amounts could be higher.
Meanwhile, Golden Tigers chief server Mohammad Syahir Mohd Rosdi said the incentive was an unexpected blessing, given that the association had no formal obligation to provide cash rewards.
"Maybe each person gets about RM10,000 if it is divided. After this, we will receive further incentives under SHAKAM, but we do not yet know the amount. As players, we are grateful and proud to receive this from PSM and TM,” he said.
The national men’s sepak takraw squad ended a 36-year wait for the team regu gold medal after defeating defending rivals Thailand 2-0 in the final, while also clinching silver in the men’s regu event after losing 0-2 to them.
