14/12/2025

READ OUR

HERE

theSun on Sunday DEC 14, 2025

SPORTS 15

Malaysian Paper

/thesun

MA ready to optimise Wong

Karim hails hammer throw ace’s remarkable achievement in Thailand

THE achievement of national women hammer throw ace Grace Wong Xiu Mei in winning the gold medal at the 2025 SEA Games in Thailand and breaking the Games record four consecutive times is a remarkable feat that should not be taken lightly. Malaysian Athletics (MA) president Datuk Karim Ibrahim said Grace’s ability to shatter the record on four occasions and register a throw exceeding 65 metres demonstrated her strong potential to compete at a higher level. He said MA would bring the matter to the attention of the National Sports

and the Commonwealth Games. I am con fident that by 2027, she will be ready to compete at the World Championships. “For me, this performance is not only a surprise at the SEA Games but also to ath letes across Asia,” he said when met by Bernama . At Suphachalasai Stadium on Friday, Grace delivered a superb performance to clinch the gold medal while breaking the Games record on four occasions. Friday’s triumph marked Grace’s fourth SEA Games gold in the hammer throw event, following her victories at the 2017 edition in Kuala Lumpur, the 2021 medal. We will do our best, we promise,” he told reporters after the match. Meanwhile, a disappointed Wei Chong admitted they had been too cautious in the semifinal, while Kai Wun said nerves got the better of them, leading to costly errors. In women’s doubles, top seeds Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah were stretched to the limit before prevailing over fourth seeds Rachel Allessya Rose-Febi Setianingrum 21-14, 19-21, 21-16 in a gruelling one hour and 18 minutes. Thinaah said they were relieved to have pulled through and credited the Indonesian pair for pushing them all the way to the decider, adding that her only wish heading into the final was to leave the court without regrets in their first-ever SEA Games. Pearly, meanwhile, revealed that they would focus on recovery as they look to end Malaysia’s decade-old gold drought in the event when they play against Indonesians Febriana Dwipuji Kusuma Meilysa Trias Puspitasari in today’s final. The Indonesians had earlier brushed aside Vietnam’s Bui Bich Phuong-Vu Thi Trang 21-10, 21-9. – Bernama

Council (NSC) to formulate the most suit able development programme for Grace, with a medium-term focus on the 2026 Asian Games and the 2026 Commonwealth Games, before targeting the World Championships in 2027. “This is a rare achievement at the SEA Games and even at the Asian level. She broke the record four times and sur passed the mark set by the 2022 Asian Games bronze medallist (64.14m). “We have a special plan for her to rep resent Malaysia at the Asian Games. There is still time, and she has two major tournaments ahead, the Asian Games MALAYSIA is on the brink of winning both the men’s and women’s doubles gold medals at the 2025 SEA Games after men’s doubles pair Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik and women’s doubles pair Pearly Tan-M Thinaah booked their places in the finals of their respective events at Gymnasium 4, Thammasat University Rangsit Campus, Pathum Thani, yesterday. In the men’s doubles semifinal matches, 2022 world champions Aaron-Wooi Yik had little trouble setting aside Indonesians Leo Rolly Carnando-Bagas Maulana, beating them 21-10, 21-12 in 33 minutes while teammates Man Wei Chong -Tee Kai Wun lost to Indonesian duo Sabar Karyaman Gutama-Moh Reza Pahlevi Isfahani 16-21, 17-21, denying Malaysia the chance of making the men’s doubles final an all Malaysian affair. Wooi Yik shared that the pair’s focus was now firmly on securing a second SEA Games gold medal, having won their first in 2019 by beating Thai pair Bodin Isara Maneepong Jongjit. “Gold is always our goal. We don’t say that because the pressure is really great on us, we just want to fight for the gold

edition in Vietnam and the 2023 edition in Cambodia. Karim said that as a token of appreciation, MA will reward Grace with RM4,000 for her outstanding achievement. Commenting on Grace’s training pro gramme in China, Karim said it would be con tinued, as exposure to world-class competi tions and athletes is crucial for enhancing per formance. – Bernama

Badminton gold within grasp

297/25

13/12/2025

SEA GAMES

3057 8566 3285

6954 5550 5127 8896 8669

5255 1696 1955 9950 7631

6193 6770 1531 5913 6986

2779 3557 5361 9649 0141

MEDAL TALLY G S B

COUNTRY

Ttl

RM14,057,965.90

1. Thailand 2. Vietnam 3. Indonesia 4. Singapore 5. Malaysia 6. Philippines 7. Myanmar

93 28 27 15 15 12

54 25 40 18 14 22 12

31 178 53 106 35 102

3057 + 8566 8566 + 3057 3285 + 3057

3057 + 3285 8566 + 3285 3285 + 8566

25 45 47 16 13

58 74 81 30 18

2 2 0 0

RM355,756.82

8. Laos

3 1 0

9. Brunei

4 2

5 2

10. Timor-Leste

RESULTS

Malaysia’s women’s doubles M Thinaah and Pearly Tan in action against Thailand in the 2025 SEA Games quarterfinal at Thammasat University. – BERNAMAPIC

ENGLISH CHAMPIONSHIP: West Brom Albion 2 Sheffield United 0. LA LIGA: Real Sociedad 1 (Guedes 35) Girona 2 (Tsygankov 76, 84) . SERIE A: Lecce 1 (Stulic 72) Pisa 0. BUNDESLIGA: Union Berlin 3 RB Leipzig 1. French Ligue 1: Angers 4 Nantes 1. BRIEFS AMIR DANIEL WINS MEN’S UNDER 81KG JUDO GOLD National judo exponent Amir Daniel Abdul Majeed delivered Malaysia’s first gold in the sport at the 2025 South East Asian (SEA) Games when he won the men’s under 81-kilogramme (kg) event yesterday. The 21-year-old beat Ferrer John Viron of the Philippines at Rajamangala Auditorium, Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi in the final yesterday, after beating Indonesian Hartato Diki in the semifinals. Amir Daniel’s gold is an improvement from the bronze he won in the under 73 kg event two editions ago. Meanwhile, Nor Izzatul Fazlia Mohamad Tahir won the bronze medal in the women’s under 78 kg judo event. UNBEATEN MALAYSIA CLINCHES MEN’S T20 GOLD The Malaysian cricket team clinched their first-ever gold medal in the men’s T20

6 11152527313335

8 32

RM10,750,277.20

RM113,181.68

5 7 6 6 8 5 57668

76685

5766

6685

Malaysia’s unbeaten streak began with a began a 114-run win over the Philippines last Tuesday, followed by a seven-wicket victory against Indonesia a day later, an eight-wicket win against hosts Thailand on Friday and finally, yesterday’s victory over Singapore. The Philippines was second in league standings, winning the silver medal, while 2017 champions Singapore settled for bronze with four points. Malaysia previously won the silver medal in 2017 and 2023.

event at the 2025 South East Asian (SEA) Games yesterday. They secured the gold after emerging champions in the single league-format competition, following a six-wicket victory over Singapore in their final group match at Terdthai Cricket Ground, winning all four matches for a total of eight points. After losing the toss and being put in to field, Malaysia restricted Singapore to 110 runs in 19.3 overs before comfortably chasing down the target with 111 runs in 11.4 overs.

576

685

57

85

66

00

All jackpot amounts stated above are for this Draw. Subject to T&Cs of the Scheme. Please visit to www.magnum4d.my for more info. THE BIGGER PLAY IS TO PLAY RESPONSIBLY