Malaysia finally ended its long wait in the team regu sepak takraw event, beating Thailand 2-1 in the final of the 2025 SEA Games yesterday (14 December).
The national trio of Haziq Hairul Nizam, Muhammad Noraizat Mohd Nordin, and Amirul Zazwan Amir got Malaysia off to a rough start, falling 9-15, 15-11, 13-15 to Thailand’s first regu, Pornthep Tinbangbon, Varayut Jantarasena, and Marukin Phanmakon, in the opening match.
Malaysia breaks 34-year drought with historic win!
However, Malaysia bounced back in the second match, as the main team of Mohammad Syahir Rosdi, Mohamad Azlan Alias, and Farhan Adam fought hard to secure a win via a 17-14, 15-13 scoreline, levelling the score and keeping hopes alive, according to BERNAMA.
In the deciding match, the combination of Muhammad Zulkifli Abd Razak, Muhammad Afifuding Mohd Razali and Aidil Aiman Azwawi gave Malaysia an early boost by taking the first set 15-13.
The late entry of Zarif Marican Ibrahim Marican proved crucial, helping Malaysia clinch the match with a 15-11 straight-set victory.
The victory brought an end to a 34-year drought, with the last team regu gold dating back to the 1991 SEA Games in Manila.
“We made a piece of national sepak takraw history after 34 years”
Datuk Mohd Sumali Reduan, president of the Sepaktakraw Association of Malaysia (PSM), was overjoyed with his team’s performance after they finally broke the long-standing dominance of their main rivals, the host country.
“We made a piece of national sepak takraw history after 34 years, finally claiming the team event championship. This victory is even sweeter because it happened on Thai soil, and we beat them,” he said.
“It was a dramatic win. There were tears everywhere today, from the fans, the players, and even myself,” he added.
You can watch the historic moment, as shared by the Sepaktakraw Association of Malaysia (PSM), below:
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