PHNOM PENH: The national sepak takraw squad’s hopes of clinching the gold medal were dashed when the men’s team regu at the 2023 SEA Games were edged 2-1 by arch-rivals Thailand at the NSTC Basketball Hall, here, yesterday.
Malaysia, however, began the opening tie of the round-robin match impressively when Amirul Zazwan Amir, Mohamad Azlan Alias and Mohammad Syahir Mohd Rosdi delivered the first point by defeating the Thai regu of Jirasak Pakbuangoen, Kritsanapong Nontakote and Yodsawat Uthaijaronsri 13-21, 21-17, 21-18.
But that was as good as it got for Malaysia as the next national regu of Aidil Aiman Azwawi, Meor Mohamad Zulfikar Mat Amin and Muhammad Afiffudin Mohd Razali fell 25-24, 15-21, 14-21 to Thailand’s Pattarapong Yupadee, Phutawan Sopa and Siriwat Sakna.
With the score level at 1-1, all eyes were on Malaysia’s third regu of Muhammad Haziq Hairul Nizam, Muhammad Noraizat Mohd Nordin and Norfaizzul Abd Razak to rise to the occasion but they went down with a whimper – 8-21, 12-21 – to Thailand’s Pornthep Tinbangbon, Rachan Viphan and Thawisak Thongsai.
The national team must now beat hosts Cambodia if they want to get their hands on the silver medal.
According to the tournament’s round-robin format, the team that tops the standings will win gold, second the silver and third the bronze.
National sepak takraw team manager Ahmad Jais Baharun was disappointed with his players for not capitalising on the first regu’s win.
“The second regu performed the best during training in Bukit Jalil but failed to show their true colours today. Of course, I am disappointed.
“The players knew that the SEA Games would be the platform used to select players for the Asian Games (in Hangzhou, China in September). If they do not perform here, we will give others the opportunity. We only want the best (players),” he said.
He hopes the national players will put this defeat behind them and raise their performance in the regu and doubles events.
Meanwhile, the national women’s team lost 3-0 to Laos in their opening doubles event before receiving a bye from Timor Leste. – BERNAMA
