Asian Games: Silver show from Malaysia on day of mixed fortunes [WATCH]

KUALA LUMPUR: A mixed day of fortunes unfolded for the Malaysian contingent at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games today, highlighted by a record-breaking performance in track cycling and a silver medal finish in sepak takraw, alongside disappointments in diving, archery and cricket.

The trio of Izzah Izzati Asri, Anis Amira Rosidi and Aliana Azizan delivered a stellar performance to capture the silver medal in the women's team sprint at the Izu Velodrome in Shizuoka.

The Malaysian team clocked 48.566 seconds in the final, finishing behind China's Luo Xuehuang, Yuan Liying and Jiang Yulu, who set a new Asian record of 45.370s to take the gold, while Taiwan secured the bronze in 49.061s.

The Malaysian women had earlier shattered the national record in the first round, recording 48.023s to erase their previous mark of 48.086s set at the Asian Championships in Tagaytay last year.

In sepak takraw, Malaysia's bid for a historic double-gold sweep fell short as the men's regu side were forced to settle for silver after losing to rivals Thailand at the Nagoya City Mizuho Arena.

The Malaysian line-up of Syahir Rosdi, Azlan Alias and Aidil Aiman Azwawi succumbed to a 15-9, 15-8 defeat against Thailand's Kritsanapong Nontakote, Wuttinun Kamsanor, and Tanaphon Sapyen.

Tactical adjustments and substitutions involving Afifudin Razali and Zulkifli Razak failed to disrupt the opposition's momentum, ending hopes of repeating the double-gold achievement at the 1990 Beijing edition following their team regu triumph last Friday.

Former Olympic silver medallist Pandelela Rinong endured a frustrating outing at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre, finishing sixth out of 11 competitors in the women's 10m platform final. The 33-year-old registered 289.15 points in what could mark her final appearance at the Asian Games.

China swept the top two spots with Chen Yu Xi claiming gold with 432.65 points and Lu Wei taking silver with 385.40 while North Korea's Mi Jo Jin bagged bronze with 363.80. Debutant Nur Eilisha Rania Abrar Raj finished bottom of the standings with 216.60.

In archery, Ariana Nur Damia Zairi's exit highlighted an early end to Malaysia's individual recurve campaign.

Ariana, who received a bye straight to the round of 1/16, lost 6-0 to Indonesia's World Cup bronze medallist Diananda Choirunissa. In the same round, Joey Tan went down 7-3 to Taiwan's Li Tsai-chi after having defeated Kyrgyzstan's Eliza Tynalieva 6-0 in the 1/24 stage.

In the men's individual recurve, Quik Chern Xin beat Kyrgyzstan's Emirbek Mashev 6-2 in the round of 1/24 before falling 6-0 to South Korea's three-time Olympic gold medallist Kim Je-deok in the 1/16 round.

Evan Rich Chong Qi Wei, who went straight to the 1/16 round, pipped Vietnam's Nguyen Duy 6-5, but was subsequently eliminated 6-2 by Taiwan's Olympic silver medallist Tang Chih-chun in the round of 1/8.

Fatin Nurfatehah Mat Salleh is now the sole Malaysian archer remaining in the competition, preparing to face South Korea's Park Jung Yoon in the women's individual compound quarter-finals on Thursday.

Bad weather dealt a premature blow to the national cricket squad, as their men's T20 quarter-final fixture against Bangladesh at Karogi Sports Park in Nisshin was abandoned without a ball bowled due to a wet field.

Ranking regulations permitted eighth-ranked Bangladesh to advance to the semi-finals at the expense of 25th-ranked Malaysia. In the Hangzhou 2023 edition, Malaysia narrowly lost to Bangladesh by two runs at the same stage.

On the squash court, the women's team comfortably secured top spot in Pool A and a place in the quarter-finals following a 3-0 victory over Singapore at the Nagoya Kino Futo Arena.

Aira Azman opened the tie with an 11-9, 11-8, 11-2 win over Au Yeong Wai Lynn, before women's singles gold medallist S. Sivasangari doubled the advantage by defeating Au Yeong Wai Yhann 11-6, 11-6, 11-5. Aifa Azman wrapped up the fixture with an 11-0, 12-10, 11-3 victory against Naisha Singh.

The national athletics squad concluded their Asian Games campaign on a disappointing note without winning any medals from this edition.

Malaysia's last remaining hope rested on women's hammer thrower Grace Wong, but she finished seventh in the final.

Grace registered her best throw of 64.15 metres on her third attempt at the Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium, but it was not enough to challenge the frontrunners.

The gold medal went to China's Zhang Jiale, who produced an Asian record-breaking throw of 78.27m, erasing the previous mark of 78.22m set by compatriot Zhao Jie in April.

Zhao Jie secured the silver medal with a throw of 74.83m, while host nation representative Joy McArthur claimed the bronze with 68.42m.

The empty-handed return marks an even worse outcome for the national athletics team compared to the 2022 Hangzhou Games, where Malaysia secured three bronze medals through Azeem Fahmi (men's 100m), Shereen Samson Vallabouy (women's 400m), and the women's 4x100m quartet.

As of 9pm, Malaysia have collected six golds, five silvers and nine bronzes to place 11th in the medal standings.

China top with 143 gold, 62 silver and 49 bronze medals, Japan are second with 45 golds, 71 silvers and 67 bronzes while South Korea are third with 24 golds, 27 silvers and 44 bronzes.

The action continues tomorrow on the track, with former world champion Azizulhasni Awang and Shah Firdaus Sahrom opening their campaigns in the men's individual sprint, while Izzah Izzati and Nur Alyssa Farid compete in the women's keirin.