Malaysia ends SEA Games in sixth place with two more gold medals

Asean – On the 15th day of the 31st Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, on the eve of the biennial Games’ finale, the national contingent added two more gold medals.

The two gold medals came from the badminton mixed doubles and Muay Thai categories, increasing Malaysia’s total haul to 39 gold, 45 silver, and 89 bronze medals, with all events completing today and clearing the way for the Games’ end.

Malaysia finished sixth behind Games winners Vietnam, with a fantastic collection of 204 gold, 121 silver, and 115 bronze medals, exceeding the aim of 36 gold medals.

Thailand finished second with 90 gold, 102 silver, and 134 bronze medals, followed by Indonesia (68-90-80), the Philippines (50-69-101), and Singapore (47-46-73).

The badminton mixed pair Chen Tang Jie-Peck Yen Wei won Malaysia’s 38th gold medal, ending a 23-year wait for the title when they defeated compatriots Hoo Pang Ron-Cheah Yee See in the all-Malaysian final.

Ahmad Nor Iman Aliff Rakib, the national junior Muay Thai champion, also shone in his SEA Games debut, winning Malaysia’s 39th gold medal in the men’s under 54 kilogramme (kg) elite division.

Nur Amisha Azrilrizal, a national women’s Muay Thai competitor, earned silver after losing to Thai Srila Oo Wansawang in the finals of the women’s under 51kg elite division.

When the women’s team finished their time in Hanoi with a silver in the team road race and a personal effort by Nur Aisyah Mohamad Zubir, whose spirited fight until the final sprint to the finish line earned her a silver in the women’s individual road race, the national cycling squad also put on a good show.

Meanwhile, national snooker star Lim Kok Leong, 27, fell 2-4 to Thai great James Wattana in the men’s individual snooker finals at this year’s SEA Games, falling short of his aim of capturing his second personal gold medal.

Unfortunately, the national Under-23 football team will return empty-handed after losing 3-4 in a penalty shoot-out against Indonesia in the bronze medal match, after drawing 1-1 after 90 minutes of play.

After edging Thailand 1-0 in the finals yesterday night, hosts Vietnam won gold.