Malaysia secured its third gold medal at the 33rd SEA Games Thailand 2025 after artistic gymnast Rachel Yeoh delivered a brilliant routine to reclaim the Uneven Bars title she last won in 2022.
The 24-year-old Yeoh reclaimed the Women’s Uneven Bars gold with a stunning routine that earned 13.300 points at the Thammasat University Gymnasium, Rangsit Campus.
Yeoh, who previously won the title at the 2022 Hanoi SEA Games, outclassed her rivals, with Haylee Garcia of the Philippines taking silver (12.300), while Singapore’s Colleen Kaijia Hong secured the bronze medal with 10.933. Yeoh was denied the chance to defend her crown last year when women’s artistic gymnastics was omitted from the Cambodian programme, making today’s victory even more meaningful.
Meanwhile, the spotlight of the day was when Thailand’s sprint prodigy Puripol Boonson electrified the stadium en route to claiming the title of Fastest Man in Southeast Asia.
Boonson powered to gold in 10.00 seconds, ahead of Indonesia’s Lalu Zohri (10.25) and Malaysia’s Muhammad Roslee Danish, who claimed bronze in a tightly contested 10.26.
Earlier in the heats, Boonson had shattered the long-standing SEA Games record with a blistering 9.94 seconds, erasing Suryo Agung Wibowo’s previous mark of 10.17 set in 2009.
Singapore’s sprint queen Shanti Pereira continued her remarkable regional dominance, defending her women’s 100m crown in 11.36 seconds. Thailand’s Jirapat Khanonta (11.54) and Vietnam’s Ha Thi Thu (11.58) followed closely behind.
The Malaysian athletics squad enjoyed a fruitful start to their campaign, ending the first day of the track and field events with three silvers and two bronzes. The momentum continued across other sports, with Malaysia also picking up silver medals in water ski slalom, men’s gymnastics floor apparatus, swimming, mountain bike cycling, taekwondo and jujitsu.
On the badminton courts, Malaysia had a positive day as Leong Jun Hao and Justin Hoh both advanced into the quarterfinals of the men’s singles.
Jun Hao made the cut after prevailing over Laos’ Vixunnalath Phichiyth and will meet Thailand’s Panitchaphop Teeraratsakul. Justin meanwhile progressed to face Thai shuttle star Kanthapon Wangcharoen.
Wong Ling Ching defeated Singapore’s Insyirah Khan and next takes on Indonesia’s Ni Kadek Amar Dinda in the women’s singles quarterfinals, while top pair Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik are up for a clash against home pair Supak Jomkoh/Kittinupong Kedren.
Man Wei Chong/Tee Kai Wun face another Thai duo, Peeratchai Sukphun/Pakkapon Teerasakul while hopes are high on Pearly Tan/Thinaah Muralitharan to progress further when they take on Thailand’s Benyapa Aimsaard/Sapsiree Taerattanachai.
Top seeds Chen Tang Jie/Toh Ee Wei face Singapore’s Terry Hee/Jin Yu Jia, while Ho Pang Ron/Cheng Su Yin face stern tests against second seeds Dechapol Puavaranukroh/Supissara Paewsampran in what promises to be a thrilling quarterfinal.
