TACTICAL SUBSTITUTION IN THIRD REGU WAS KEY TO GOLD MEDAL VICTORY -- AHMAD JAIS

From Muhammad Afiff Md Adnan

CHONBURI, Dec 14 (Bernama) -- National sepak takraw head coach, Ahmad Jais Baharun, described the tactical change of substituting Muhammad Zarif Marican Ibrahim Marican for Zulkifli Razak as the correct move in breaking the spirit of the hosts, Thailand, which ultimately allowed Malaysia to emerge as the champions of the team regu event at the SEA Games 2025.

According to him, the bold decision was made after realising that the opponent's style of play was starting to dominate the match, but the young server (tekong) managed to provide an immediate impact in terms of tempo and team confidence.

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"For me, following our players' pattern, when we are under pressure, we need to execute a strategy to break the opponent's defence line.

"Our tactics, to some extent, affected the opposing team, and for the third group, Alhamdulillah (Praise be to God), this is a positive thing: whichever player we give the responsibility to, they perform their best," he told Bernama.

In the thrilling match, Malaysia's first regu, Haziq Hairul Nizam, Muhammad Noraizat Mohd Nordin, and Amirul Zazwan Amir, lost to the Thai trio, Pornthep Tinbangbon, Varayut Jantarasena, and Marukin Phanmakon, in three sets, 9-15, 15-11, 13-15.

However, Malaysia's second regu, comprising Mohammad Syahir Rosdi, Mohamad Azlan Alias, and Farhan Adam, rose to inject a spirit of revival for Malaysia, defeating Siriwat Sakha, Thawisak Thongsai, and Rachan Viphan, 17-14, 15-13, thus leveling the score at 1-1.

That momentum continued in the deciding set when the third regu, initially represented by Muhammad Zulkifli Abd Razak, Muhammad Afifuddin Mohd Razali, and Aidil Aiman Azwawi, performed calmly to secure the first set victory 15-13.

Ahmad Jais' strategic substitution towards the end of the match, bringing in Muhammad Zarif, clearly made a crucial impact before Malaysia confirmed the gold medal with a 15-11 win in the second set, thereby lifting the gold medal after a 34-year wait.

Muhammad Zarif, meanwhile, did not want to boast and described the victory achieved as the result of teamwork.

"All my friends are heroes, whether they were on or off the court; I don't feel it's just me, but the whole team. All of us on the sepak takraw team have proven that nothing is impossible. Alhamdulillah, through the prayers of the Malaysian people, we got the gold medal," he said.

-- BERNAMA