Invaluable lessons and exposure for exponents before 2027 home edition

Wong Zin, Seah Jin Ying and Yow Mei Yee celebrate after winning gold in the women's Taekwondo Recognized Pomsae Team event at the SEA Games 2025, held at Fashion Island Shopping Mall on December 10, 2025. — GLENN GUAN/The Star

BANGKOK: The SEA Games proved to be a tough learning ground for Malaysia’s taekwondo contingent.

Yesterday, the national team’s campaign came to an end after exponents Norumar Mohd Firdhaus and Lokadevan Anatore went down 0-2 to Baby Jessica Canabal of the Philippines and Indonesia’s Muhammad Bassam Raihan in the quarter-finals of the women’s below-53kg and men’s below-53kg respectively at the Island Hall, Fashion Island Shopping Mall in Bangkok.

With nearly 70 percent of the team making their debut, the team fell short of their two-gold target but still returned with six medals – one gold, one silver and four bronze.

Despite the shortfall, the campaign provided invaluable exposure and lessons for the young athletes as they build towards the 2027 Malaysia edition.

“I am satisfied with our athletes’ overall performance,” said team manager Datuk Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor Sheikh Mustapha.

“We fielded a total of 15 athletes from taekwondo and managed to win one gold, one silver and four bronze medals.

“While our target was more than one gold – at least two – I am still content because about 70 percent of our athletes are young and competing in the SEA Games for the first time, so they lacked experience.

“This participation is more about preparation towards the 2027 Kuala Lumpur edition.”

He said that the performances of exponents from Vietnam, Thailand and the Philippines were strong.

“The gap is quite visible. We need to focus on technique, managing nerves, improving mental toughness and overcoming inexperience,” said Muszaphar.

“We already have two new coaches from (South) Korea, and I do not see major issues with our coaching system or techniques.

Earlier, debutants Yow Mei Yee, Seah Jing Ying and Wong Zin delivered the gold in women’s recognised poomsae team event while Mohd Syafiq Zuber claimed silver in the men’s kyorugi below 87kg.

Bronze medals were secured by Chin Ken Haw in freestyle poomsae, Jason Loo, Randy Owen and Ken Haw (men’s recognised poomsae team event), R. Arun Raj (men’s below 68kg) and Fu Cern Put Thai (men’s below 58kg)