NUR SYAFAZLIYANA TARGETS SEA GAMES GOLD HAT-TRICK FOR MALAYSIA

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 29 (Bernama) -- Malaysian netball star Nur Syafazliyana Mohd Ali is determined to help the national squad complete a hat-trick of gold medals at the 2025 SEA Games in Thailand this December.

Set to make her fourth appearance since the 2015 edition, Nur Syafazliyana said that in addition to traditional rivals Singapore, this time the challenge is expected to be tougher with the presence of the host nation, which could threaten Malaysia’s gold defence.

“If we are blessed with the opportunity, we want to win gold for the third consecutive time.

“However, we cannot underestimate the challenge posed by the hosts, as it is understood that there have been slight changes in their style of play, especially in the goal shooter position,” she told reporters when receiving a visit from the 2025 SEA Games Chef de Mission Nurul Huda Abdullah at the national netball team’s training venue here today.

The 32-year-old added that team chemistry with seven junior players has also improved positively ahead of the biennial sporting event, especially after returning from a nearly week-long training camp in Australia recently.

National head coach Choo Kon Lee is satisfied with the training camp in Australia, during which her team recorded three wins out of four matches against netball club teams from around Sydney.

The 61-year-old coach also said that the 2025 Nations Cup in Singapore from Nov 2–8, featuring teams such as Kenya, the Isle of Man and Papua New Guinea, will serve as the final test for her squad before their battle at the 2025 SEA Games.

Malaysia previously won back-to-back SEA Games gold medals, namely at the 2017 edition here and the 2019 edition in the Philippines.

Netball was not contested at the 2021 edition in Vietnam and the 2023 edition in Cambodia.

The 2025 SEA Games in Thailand is scheduled to take place from Dec 9 to 20, involving three regions — Bangkok, Chonburi and Songkhla.

-- BERNAMA