Asian Games: Malaysia settle for regu silver after Thailand defeat

NAGOYA: The national men's sepak takraw team saw their hopes of completing a double-gold mission at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games dashed after losing to Thailand in the regu final at Nagoya City Mizuho Arena earlier today.

The national regu team, featuring Syahir Rosdi, Azlan Alias and Aidil Aiman Azwawi, had to settle for silver after suffering a 15-9, 15-8 defeat to Thailand's Kritsanapong Nontakote, Wuttinun Kamsanor and Tanaphon Sapyen.

Malaysia struggled to find their rhythm and were unable to withstand the pressure from the defending champions during the final.

Attempts to change the flow of the match through two substitutions, bringing in Muhammad Afifudin Razali and Zulkifli Razak for Syahir and Azlan, failed to turn the momentum in Malaysia's favour before the original pair was restored.

The defeat ended Malaysia's hopes of repeating the double-gold feat achieved at the 1990 Beijing edition, when the country won both the team regu and regu events.

Last Friday, the national squad ended a 36-year wait for the team regu gold by winning the event for the first time since Beijing 1990.

Malaysia's most recent regu gold came at the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games.