BANGKOK: Malaysia’s poomsae taekwondo team started the SEA Games 2025 strong, winning gold in the women’s team event and bronze in the men’s team, with help from Sarawak’s Randy Owen Augustine Linggi.
The men’s team, which included 20-year-old Randy Owen from Sarawak, Ken Chin Haw, and Jason Loo Jun Wei, fought hard to secure the bronze medal after a narrow 8.440 to 8.650 loss to Indonesia in the semifinals.
“This is my first SEA Games, so I was quite nervous at first. But I tried to overcome it and focus fully on my performance. I’m very proud to bring home a medal for the country,” said Randy.
Randy shared that their coach emphasised the importance of focusing on preparation and training rather than just the final results.
The team began training intensively from early this year, participating in several tournaments to prepare.
“Our training was very intense. We worked not only on improving techniques but also on building strong coordination as a team. This helped us be mentally and physically ready when we stepped into the arena,” he explained.
Competing internationally offered Randy a new perspective compared to local competitions.
“Before, I only competed locally. Now, facing athletes from across Southeast Asia gives me valuable experience. Competing at this level requires focus, discipline, and confidence despite the pressure,” he added.
On the women’s side, the team of Seah Jing Ying, Wong Zin, and Yow Mei Yee surprised many by defeating host nation, Thailand, with a score of 8.560 to 8.450 to claim the gold medal in the team poomsae event.
“We only started training as a team about two years ago, and we’ve been focusing seriously on our own performances for the past six months.
“Our goal was to do our best and stay focused without worrying about what others were doing,” said Seah Jing Ying, who competed in the Malaysia Games (SUKMA) in Sarawak last year.
Jing Ying said the gold medal was an unexpected but deeply meaningful achievement for the team.
“We didn’t expect this result. It was a surprise, and we feel very grateful,” she said.
With these results, Sarawak contributed one gold and one bronze medal to Malaysia’s poomsae tally, boosting the national contingent’s morale at the SEA Games 2025.
After the first day in Bangkok, the taekwondo team has already brought home one gold and two bronze medals, setting a positive tone for the competitions ahead.
