Go for gold: The Malaysian takraw team after beating Laos.
THE sepak takraw gold is there for the taking – but first, there has to be revenge against the Thais.
Malaysia knocked out Laos 2-0 in the semi-finals yesterday and set themselves up for a repeat final against Thailand at JSC Gymnasium tomorrow.
At the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia, Thailand won the gold in team event, beating Malaysia 2-0, with straight games wins in the first two regus.
Although silver is guaranteed and Malaysia have matched the target set for them by the national body, Malaysian coach Ahmad Jais Baharun was thinking of a more lustrous medal.
He wants his players to be more aggressive against the Thais and said they should not be fearful in the final.
“Personally for me, our team need to be more aggressive and have a bigger variety of attacks, starting from the tekong.
“If our players can tighten up the defence, I think we have a chance to fight the Thais,” he said.
Yesterday, Mohd Noraizat Mohd Nordin, Farhan Adam and Mohd Haziq Hairul Nizal clinched the first point for Malaysia by beating the Laotian regu 21-17, 21-19.
The second Malaysian regu comprising Mohd Azlan Alias, Amirul Zazwan Amir and Mohd Syahir Mohd Rosdi maintained the momentum to take out their Laotian counterparts 21-14, 21-14 to secure the date against the Thais.
The third regu comprising Mohd Zarif Marican, Mohd Khairol Zaman Hamir Akhbar and Mohd Zaim Razali did not have to play the deciding tie.
Defending champions Thailand reached the final after beating South Korea 2-0 in the earlier semi-final.
At the last Asiad, Malaysia bagged gold in the men’s regu event after beating Indonesia 2-1 in the final.
