It was a comparatively quieter but still rewarding day for Malaysia at the 33rd SEA Games Thailand 2025 as the national contingent collected four gold medals on Day 7, with discus thrower Irfan Shamsuddin stealing the spotlight in Bangkok.
As the Games edge closer to the conclusion, Malaysia continued to close in on its 200-medal target, amassing a total of 149 medals after seven days of action. The latest gold medals came from athletics, tenpin bowling, equestrian and shooting, lifting Malaysia’s overall tally to 30 gold, 31 silver and 88 bronze medals.
National discus ace Irfan underlined his dominance on the regional stage by clinching his seventh consecutive SEA Games gold in emphatic fashion at the Suphachalasai National Stadium. The 30-year-old hurled a new Games record of 60.23 metres, eclipsing the previous mark of 59.50m set by Singapore’s James Wong Tuck Yim, a record that had stood since the 1999 Brunei Games.
Thailand’s Bandit Singhatongkul claimed silver with a throw of 53.82m, while Filipino Russell Ricaforte secured bronze at 53.34m. Irfan, unbeaten since the 2013 Myanmar Games, continues to cement his status as one of Southeast Asia’s most decorated discus throwers.
Tenpin bowling finally delivered gold for Malaysia at the Blu-O Rhythm & Bowl in Bangkok, ending a long wait for the sport. Rafiq Ismail and Syazirol Shamsuddin rose to the occasion to capture the men’s doubles crown with a combined score of 470 points, comfortably defeating Thailand’s Lapasdanai Chusaeng and Vilinkorn Kledkaew, who finished with 435.
“I’m happy to finally win a gold medal together with Syazirol. This victory is a gift to Malaysia,” said Rafiq, who completed a full collection of SEA Games gold medals across all bowling events with the doubles triumph.
At the Photharam Shooting Range, veteran shotgun specialist Ong Chee Keng delivered a landmark moment by winning the men’s individual trap gold. The 43-year-old ended Malaysia’s 32-year wait for gold in the event, with the last triumph dating back to Heng Chai Yee’s victory at the 1993 Singapore Games.
Equestrian also contributed to Malaysia’s gold haul through a record-breaking performance by Megan Min Ern Ding. Competing at the Grimm Grand Prix Arena in Chonburi, Megan, riding Gaudi Vita, captured the individual dressage gold with a new SEA Games record score of 76.252 points.
In the overall standings, hosts Thailand continue to pull away at the top of the table, while Indonesia and Vietnam remain firmly in pursuit as the competition heads into its final stretch.
