It was a day of high drama and contrasting emotions for Malaysia at the 33rd SEA Games Thailand 2025, as badminton heartbreak and sepaktakraw heroics dominated proceedings as the national contingent added four gold medals after Day 5 of competition in Bangkok.
On a day when women’s doubles stars Pearly Tan/Thinaah Muralitharan salvaged pride for Malaysian badminton with the squad’s only gold, the men’s sepaktakraw team sparked wild celebrations by ending a 34-year wait for SEA Games gold in the team event.
There was disappointment as Malaysia’s other badminton gold hopefuls — Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik, Man Wei Chong/Tee Kai Wun, and mixed doubles pair Chen Tang Jie/Toh Ee Wei — fell short of expectations in the men’s and mixed doubles events.
Sepaktakraw, however, delivered one of Malaysia’s defining moments of the Games after the national team stunned arch-rivals Thailand 2–1 to clinch their first team gold since the 1991 Manila Games, reaffirming Malaysia’s pedigree as a regional force in the sport.
The opening regu of Haziq Hairul Nizam, Noraizat Nordin and Amirul Zazwan Amir narrowly lost 15–9, 11–15, 15–13 to Thailand’s Pornthep Thinbangbon, Phutawan Sopa and Marukin Phanmakon. But the second regu of Syahir Rosdi, Azlan Alias and Farhan Adam levelled the tie after a composed 17–14, 15–13 victory over Siriwat Sakha, Thawisak Thongsai and Rachan Viphan.
The decisive third regu — Zulkifli Razak, Afifudin Razali and Aidil Aiman Azwawi — rose to the occasion, producing a commanding straight-sets win of 15–13, 15–11 over Kritnasanapong Nontakote, Varayut Jantarasena and Wuttinun Kamsanor to seal the historic gold.
Earlier, shooter Jonathan Wong delivered his third SEA Games title, dominating the men’s 10m air pistol with 237.8 points. The Philippines’ Michael Angelo Fernandez claimed silver (236.1), while Indonesia’s Aulia Sulthanul Marufsettled for bronze (213.1).
The badminton highlight came when world No.2 Pearly-Thinaah held their nerves in a gripping final, defeating Indonesia’s world No.59 Febriana Dwipuji Kusuma/Meilysa Trias Puspitasari 21–16, 19–21, 21–17 to secure Malaysia’s lone gold from the sport.
A second badminton gold proved elusive, as top-ranked Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik stumbled in the men’s doubles final, going down in straight sets 21–14, 21–17 to Indonesia’s world No.8 pair Sabar Karyaman/Moh Reza Isfahani.
Pencak silat also provided a major boost for Malaysia as Nur Syafiqah Hamzah produced a stunning performance to claim gold in the women’s silat seni tunggal (individual). The 31-year-old shocked world champion Puspa Arumsari of Indonesia in the semifinals before edging Brunei’s Nur Wasiqah Aziemah Rosihan 9.960–9.920 in the final.
In the day’s overall standings, Thailand remain firmly in command after Day 5 with 132 gold, 78 silver and 46 bronze medals. Indonesia are second (39-56-52), followed by Vietnam (34-34-64), Singapore (26-28-32).
Malaysia remained at fifth with a total of 112 medal comprising 20 gold, 23 silver and 69 bronze medals, while Philippines in sixth spot with 17-30-68.
