Malaysia’s SEA Games teams with athletes from Johor include the MLBB women’s squad, pictured left with their historic gold medals; cycling team sprint (below right); and karate (below left). — Photos: GLENN GUAN/The Star and Bernama
State celebrates podium spots, history in women’s e-sports
JOHOR athletes have once again made the country proud following an impressive medal haul at SEA Games 2025, an exco member says.
State youth, sports, entrepreneur development and cooperatives committee chairman Mohd Hairi Mad Shah described it as a major boost for Johor sports.
“Johor has long been recognised as a key contributor to Malaysian sports.
“A total of 72 Johor-born athletes represented Malaysia at the SEA Games in Thailand, together with 17 athletes who competed under the state banner,” said the Larkin assemblyman.
Two coaches from Johor sports associations were also selected to serve as national coaches, highlighting the state’s growing influence in sports, he said.
“Johor will continue to strengthen grassroots and elite sports programmes to ensure the state remains a strong talent pipeline.”
Mohd Hairi: Johor will continue to strengthen grassroots and elite sports programmes.
He said the state’s athletes played a key role in winning gold medals in several team and individual events such as hockey, karate and sepak takraw.
History was created when the women’s Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) squad, with a member from Johor, won the country’s first-ever e-sports gold.
The national netball team, men’s keirin and team sprint in cycling and men’s T20 and T10 cricket were also triumphant.
“Silver medals were contributed through strong performances in the men’s MLBB e-sports, mixed doubles table tennis, indoor hockey, women’s T20 cricket and men’s 4x100m athletics relay,” said Mohd Hairi.
Supporters cheering during the netball final against Singapore.— Photos: IZZRAFIQ ALIAS and GLENN GUAN/The Star
“Johor athletes also delivered a substantial bronze medal tally across a wide range of sports, demonstrating the state’s versatility in both traditional and emerging disciplines.
“Bronze medal wins included women’s air pistol, canoeing, men’s football, futsal and men’s karate at both the team and individual level.”
Teqball, women’s table tennis, men’s sporting clays and Sepak Takraw Chinlone secured podium finishes too.
Malaysia’s ‘Rhythm In Harmony’ performance;
Mohd Hairi said bronze medals were won in muay thai, extreme sports, women’s T10 cricket, women’s 3-on-3 basketball and women’s team badminton, as well as men’s 100m and 200m sprint events.
“The wide spread of medals across different sports reflects Johor’s holistic approach to athlete development, covering technical, physical and mental preparation,” he added.
Mohd Hairi hopes the SEA Games success will inspire more young Johoreans to pursue sports seriously and strive for excellence at the national and international levels.
Fireworks marking the closing of SEA Games Thailand 2025 at Rajamangala National Stadium, Bangkok, in which Malaysia won 231 medals.
“Johor will continue to stand firmly behind our athletes and invest in sports development for long-term success,” he said.
He hailed the athletes as heroes and heroines of Malaysian sport, urging them to keep pushing boundaries and setting new benchmarks.
