INCHEON: Malaysia qualified for the men’s sepak takraw team semi-finals, but their run is likely to end today as they are meeting four-time defending champions Thailand.
Malaysia finished Group B runners-up after beating China 3-0 at the Bucheon Gymnasium yesterday. Earlier on Wednesday, Malaysia went down to Indonesia 2-1 in the three-team group.
Indonesia topped the group and will meet South Korea in the other semi-final.
National coach Jamaluddin Hassan admitted that they have an uphill task against arch-rivals Thailand.
“We have to be realistic. The Thais are the favourites and have the material to be champions again. What marks them out is their experience,” he said.
“But they are not unbeatable. We must believe in ourselves and go for it. The players know what is at stake and there is no reason to fear them. We just need to play our normal game and raise the level a little higher.”
Since the sport was introduced in 1990 in Beijing, Thailand and Malaysia have contested all the five finals. There was no team event in Hiroshima in 1994.
The Malaysians won in 1990 but the Thais have reigned supreme from 1998.
In yesterday’s match, Jamaluddin reshuffled his three regus.
The first regu of Zamree Dahan, Syahir Rosdi and Syareenqamar Salehan downed Ge Yusheng, Jin Jie and Li Huanhuan 21-17, 21-18.
The second regu of Izurin Refin, Fadzli Roslan and Mohd Muqlis Borhan secured the winning point by beating Fan Xu, Zhang Linyen and Yang Jiapeng 22-20, 21-12.
Ahmad Aizat, Mohd Kamal Alfiza and Zulfendi Sumari played for the first time in Incheon and they whipped Wu Haoran, Xu Mingchi and Zhang Ruhan 21-4, 21-16.
Jamaluddin said he may reshuffle the line-up again against the Thais.
“This will depend on the video analysis and also the tactical plan. We also must look at their line-ups and see what sort of a team they will come up with,” he said.
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