KUALA LUMPUR, April 23 — The national men’s sepak takraw team will face arch-rivals Thailand in the group stages of the regu and team events at the Hanoi SEA Games in Vietnam from May 12-23.
In the regu event, Malaysia and Thailand have been drawn in Group C with hosts Vietnam, with the top two teams advancing to the semi-finals.
Malaysia will also be up against Thailand in the men’s team event after both sides were placed in Group A, which also comprises hosts Vietnam and Cambodia, which will be played in a single league format.
Meanwhile, in the draw conducted yesterday, the national men’s team have also been pitted with Indonesia and Cambodia in Group E for the doubles event.
The national women’s team, meanwhile, will face reigning champions Thailand, Vietnam and Laos in the team regu event in Group A.
A bigger challenge awaits the national women’s team in the regu event after being drawn in Group B with Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar and Cambodia, besides being pitted against Thailand and Myanmar in the quadrant.
The glitter of gold is not on the radar of Malaysia’s sepak takraw team for the Hanoi SEA Games, as more than 80 per cent of their players are young.
Malaysia’s sepak takraw squad last won gold in the 2017 Games in Kuala Lumpur when they triumphed in men’s regu and chinlone linking.
— Bernama
