CHONBURI, Dec 14 (Bernama) -- Malaysia's long wait to end the drought in the team regu sepak takraw championship finally materialised when the national squad defeated arch-rivals Thailand 2-1 in the final of the 2025 SEA Games here today.
The action, which took place at Nakhon Pathom Gymnasium, saw Ahmad Jais Baharun's men successfully end the dominance of the Gajah Putih, which had been Malaysia's main obstacle in the event for the past three decades.
The success thus ended a 34-year wait to lift the team regu championship, which was last won at the 1991 SEA Games in Manila.
The national trio of Haziq Hairul Nizam, Muhammad Noraizat Mohd Nordin and Amirul Zazwan Amir started off on a sour note when they lost 9-15, 15-11, 13-15 to Thailand's first regu, Pornthep Tinbangbon, Varayut Jantarasena and Marukin Phanmakon in the opening match.
However, the country's main team consisting of Mohammad Syahir Rosdi, Mohamad Azlan Alias and Farhan Adam charged back to revive Malaysia's chances after recording a 17-14, 15-13 victory in the second match to level the score.
In the deciding game, the combination of Muhammad Zulkifli Abd Razak, Muhammad Afifuddin Mohd Razali and Aidil Aiman Azwawi kept Malaysia’s hopes by winning the first set in 15-13.
The entry of Zarif Marican Ibrahim Marican at the end of the match also played an important role before Malaysia confirmed a straight set victory with 15-11.
The Sepaktakraw Association of Malaysia (PSM) president, Datuk Mohd Sumali Reduan was elated with his team's performance when they managed to break the dominance of their main rivals again in the host country.
"Today, another piece of national sepaktakraw history was created after 34 years of waiting, waiting to become the team event champion. This victory is sweeter because it happened on Thai soil and we managed to defeat them.
"It was a dramatic victory. Everyone cried today - the fans, the players, even I myself shed tears," he said when met after the match.
Mohd Sumali at the same time said that he had managed to leave a message to the players to end the jinx against Thailand after failing in several previous attempts.
"I met all the players before the match. I said that we have made breakthroughs against Thailand (regu, quadrant, and double). This is an opportunity for who knows how many times.
"I ask them to 'reset' in their heads, play as if there was no defeat before. We just want to win, the players show high fighting spirit, determination, and performance and I think they peaked very well indeed," he said.
-- BERNAMA
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