KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 15 — The national sepak takraw and chinlone squad are targeting two gold, four silver and five bronze medals out of the 22 golds on offer in the sepak takraw arena at the Cambodia SEA Games 2023 from May 5 to 17.
Sepaktakraw Association of Malaysia (PSM) president, Datuk Mohd Sumali Reduan said from that number, one gold, three silver and one bronze are expected to come via sepak takraw, with the gold expected to come in the men’s doubles event.
For chinlone, a traditional Myanmar sport that will be contested again after the last time at the 2017 Kuala Lumpur SEA Games, PSM aims to win one gold, one silver and four bronze.
Malaysia will take part in the men’s regu, team regu and doubles, as well as women’s team doubles and quadrant in sepak takraw, in addition to two men’s, women’s and mixed events each in the chinlone category.
Mohd Sumali said PSM will finalise the final list of players to Phnom Penh through three-day selection trials starting on February 24.
At the same time, he hopes that the appointment of national sepak takraw legend Ahmad Jais Baharum as the new head coach of the team soon can strengthen their preparations for the SEA Games.
Mohd Sumali said PSM will send 12 sepak takraw players and six male chinlone players, while for the women’s events, the nine players who will be selected for sepak takraw will also participate in the chinlone events.
“We have to face big challenges because we want to see how the performance of the national squad changes, especially at the Cambodian SEA Games (after PSM’s past internal conflict). I hope the new coaching structure will give a new face and lease of life to the national squad, as well as new hope to fans and sepak takraw players in the country.
“I have informed the chairman of the Selection Committee Datuk Abdul Halim Suleiman and Ahmad Jais that this time we have to show that PSM is on its way to achieving a proud performance,” he said after the SEA Games selection committee meeting yesterday.
— Bernama
