The Malaysian contingent appears to be on course to achieve its 200-medal target at the 2025 SEA Games in Thailand.
With about five days remaining before the biennial Games conclude at the Rajamangala National Stadium this Saturday, Malaysia has already collected 147 medals — 30 gold, 31 silver and 88 bronze — placing the nation fifth overall as of 10pm.
There is also a strong possibility that Malaysia could surpass the 34 gold medals won at the 2023 Cambodia SEA Games, which marked the country’s weakest performance at the regional meet.
Based on strong prospects in traditionally dominant sports, Malaysia is expected to further boost its medal haul, particularly in diving, which begins tomorrow and offers four gold medals, as well as squash, which is currently underway with another four golds at stake.
Attention tomorrow will also be on Muay Thai, with six Malaysian athletes set to compete in the finals. Among them is Yan Jia Chi, better known as Angie, a three-time gold medallist at the International Federation of Muaythai Associations (IFMA) Senior U23 World Championships from 2023 to 2025. She will compete in the women’s individual waikru event.
Malaysia will also be represented by Muhammad Mikhail Ghazali, the younger brother of national Muay Thai star Muhammad Johan Ghazali Zulfikar, who will face home favourite Suphakon Sirilun in the men’s featherweight 57kg final at the Lumpini Boxing Stadium.
Meanwhile, the national netball team is scheduled to face traditional rivals Singapore as they aim for a third consecutive gold medal, having last claimed the title at the 2019 SEA Games in the Philippines. Netball was not contested at the 2021 and 2023 editions.
Earlier, Malaysia added four gold medals through equestrian rider Megan Min Ern Ding, shooter Ong Chee Keng, men’s bowling pair Muhammad Rafiq Ismail and Muhammad Syazirol Shamsudin, as well as discus thrower Muhammad Irfan Shamsuddin.
Muhammad Irfan stole the spotlight by successfully defending his discus title, which he has held since the 2013 Myanmar edition, and by breaking the Games record with a throw of 59.50 metres — a mark that had stood for 26 years since being set by Singapore’s Wong Tuck Yim at the 1999 Brunei SEA Games.
Veteran shooter Ong Chee Keng also made history by ending Malaysia’s 32-year wait for a gold medal in the men’s individual trap event. The 44-year-old Sarawakian scored 39 points in the six-man final at the Photharam Shooting Range in Ratchaburi, securing Malaysia’s first gold in the event since Heng Chai Yee’s triumph at the 1993 Singapore SEA Games.
As of now, host nation Thailand lead the medal standings with 160 gold medals, followed by Indonesia with 62, Vietnam with 48 and Singapore with 37.
