PHNOM PENH: The Malaysian contingent’s chances of achieving event the modest target of 40 gold medals at the 2023 Cambodia SEA Games look impossible with only one of competition remaining before the games draws down its curtain on Wednesday (May 17).
Though on paper there is one day to go, competitions for medals come to a close today which is the penultimate day as the final day has been reserved for the closing ceremony.
After 10 days of competition, the Malaysia managed to win 30 gold 42 silver and 85 bronze, which on a percentage basis is just 75 percent of the target.
The 30-gold medal accumulated over the 10 days saw Malaysia remain in seventh spot and by the looks of what’s been achieved thus far, even surpassing Singapore would be an impossible task since the republic state which are only comparable to a single state in the peninsula have managed to accumulate 45 gold, 38 silver and 57 bronze to capture sixth spot.
The current seventh position is certainly unchartered territory for Malaysia since the country had always finished among the top five in the medal tally.
Malaysia have only been in such a predicament twice in the history of the SEA Games, namely a sixth place finish during the 1983 edition in Singapore and Hanoi, Vietnam last year.
In all of yesterday’s competitions, taekwondo saved the blushes on a rather dry day when taekwondo exponent Muhammad Syafiq Zuber lifted the gloom by taking the gold medal in the men’s under-80kg to give the Malaysian contingent its 30th gold medal.
Today, the country’s medal focus will be on hockey where Malaysian men and women have qualified for the final while medal hopes will also hinge on sepak takraw (inter-regu), table tennis and badminton.
Malaysians will also see action in dance sport, traditional boat race and kick boxing.
Meanwhile, after 10 days of competition, Vietnam have crowned itself as the overall champion after collecting 123 gold, 100 silver and 97 bronze, followed by Thailand 94-76-93, while Indonesia are in third spot with 74-66-92. – BERNAMA
