SURESH-MUHAMMAD AZARUDDIN RATE THEIR SILVER MEDAL DEBUT AN 8/10 PARTNERSHIP PERFORMANCE

NAKHON RATCHASIMA, Jan 23 (Bernama) — Malaysian men’s doubles recurve pair S. Suresh and Muhammad Azaruddin Mat rated their first partnership at the 2025 ASEAN Para Games (APG) in Thailand 8 out of 10 after clinching their maiden silver medal together today.

The archers, aged 32 and 33, fell 0-6 to Indonesia’s Kholidin-Setiawan in the final, a match they described as a test against formidable opponents having trained together for only one month.

Suresh, who has competed in four APG editions previously won a bronze medal with a different partner at the 2022 APG.

“Our coach monitored our performance during the Malaysian circuit. We did well there, so he decided to pair us together. Luck wasn’t on our side today, but we’ve agreed to continue training, correct our mistakes and aim for gold at the next APG in Malaysia,” he told reporters here today.

Suresh also noted that unpredictable wind conditions played a key role in the final, making it challenging to read shots accurately despite careful preparation.

He praised Muhammad Azaruddin for handling the pressure admirably in his first major international outing.

Despite the loss, both archers remained optimistic saying the experience provided invaluable lessons on technique, communication and strategy.

“This first APG together is a stepping stone. We now know where we can improve,” Suresh said while Muhammad Azaruddin admitted managing the pressure was tough but expressed pride in contributing fully to the team’s effort.

— BERNAMA