BANGKOK: Sarawakian archer, Joey Tan Xing Lei, helped Malaysia’s women’s recurve archery team secure a silver medal at the SEA Games 2025.
Despite making her regional debut at the Games, the 18-year-old from Miri showed remarkable calmness and consistency, proving that young talent from Sarawak can stand alongside the country’s elite athletes on the international stage.
Malaysia had to settle for silver after losing 5-3 to Indonesia in the final on Wednesday.
Joey admitted she never expected to reach this far in her first SEA Games, especially as it was also her first year with the national team.
“This is my first SEA Games and also my first year with the national team. I really did not expect to make it to the final, but my target from the start was to bring home a medal,” she said when met at the Thailand Archery Association field.
She said the success was the result of continuous hard work, disciplined training, and the strong support of the coaching staff and teammates throughout the campaign.
Joey’s teammate, Malaysian Olympian Ariana Nur Dania Zairi, acknowledged that the pressure of being an elite athlete was the main challenge throughout the competition.
“Coming as an Olympian certainly comes with high expectations and the pressure is always there. Alhamdulillah, I’m grateful to have contributed a silver medal to the team,” she said.
Ariana also stressed that the main difference between the Olympics and SEA Games lies in the mental aspect.
She pointed out that the experience of competing at the Olympics helped a lot in emotional control and maturity when facing high-pressure situations.
Meanwhile, the men’s recurve team bounced back by defeating Thailand 5-3 in the bronze medal playoff, bringing home the bronze for the country.
The men’s lineup, consisting of Quik Chern Xin, Muhamad Zarif Syahiir Zolkepli, Muhammad Syafiq Busthamin, and Muhammad Haiqal Danish Syamsul Afandi, demonstrated high discipline and consistent accuracy despite competing under the pressure of the host nation.
This victory not only redeemed the disappointment of missing the final but also clearly indicated the team’s ability to bounce back in high-intensity matches.
