Malaysia defeated Thailand 2-0 in the men's team regu sepak takraw final at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on Friday, September 25, ending a 36-year wait for gold in the event. The final was played at the Mizuho venue in Nagoya, Japan, according to Malaysian national news agency Bernama and The Star. It was Malaysia's first title in this Asian Games event since it beat Thailand at the 1990 Beijing Games.
The team regu contest consists of matches between three-player units. Malaysia needed victories from two units to settle Friday's final and achieved both without a deciding third match. Thailand entered as the defending champion, having beaten host Japan 2-0 in Thursday's semifinal, while Malaysia reached the final by defeating Indonesia 2-1, Bernama reported.
Malaysia opened with Mohammad Syahir Mohd Rosdi, Farhan Adam and Mohamad Azlan Alias. They beat Thailand's Marukin Phanmakon, Phutawan Sopa and Pornthep Tinbangbon in three sets, 15-9, 5-15, 15-11. The Malaysian trio won the first set, lost the second by a wide margin and recovered in the deciding set to put their team one match ahead. Both Bernama and The Star reported the same set scores.
The second Malaysian unit, Zulkifli Abd Razak, Muhammad Afifuddin Mohd Razali and Aidil Aiman Azwawi, then defeated Kritsanapong Nontakote, Tanaphon Sapyen and Wuttinu Kamsanor 15-13, 15-10. The straight-sets result completed the 2-0 final and made a third unit unnecessary. The Star and Bernama identified the victory as Malaysia's fourth gold medal of these Games.
Syahir and Azlan told Bernama that injuries to several players had complicated preparations. Azlan said the squad had not expected to beat Thailand without losing a match. The result therefore carried particular weight for a team that had pursued this Asian Games title since 1990, although the players did not suggest the injury problems had changed the official outcome.
Bernama reported that the players would turn their attention to the separate regu event later in the Games. Friday's team title gives Malaysia a confirmed gold against its longtime rival; further results will depend on matches still to be played. The Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games continue into early October.
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