TARGET SURPASSED
Malaysia are officially 2017 Sea Games champions
FADHLI ISHAK fadhli.ishak@nst.com.my
THE national contingent saved their best for last as they delivered a massive 29 gold medals to officially confirm Malaysia’s status as the overall champions of the Kuala Lumpur Sea Games (KL2017).
Malaysia have amassed 140 gold medals so far and with only seven gold on offer on the final day of competition today, second placed Thailand - who are over 70 gold adrift - have no chance of overtaking.
National silat exponents left no room for error as they bagged another seven gold yesterday to bring their total haul at KL2017 to 10 gold, comfortably exceeding their eight gold target.
It was a memorable win for Mohd al Jufferi Jamari as he clinched his fourth consecutive Sea Games gold since 2011 in front of a home crowd.
Siblings Aaliyah, 14, and Adam Yoong, 9, highlighted what a bright future Malaysia has in the water ski event as they wowed the crowd at the Putrajaya Watersports Centre with their skills.
Aaliyah added another two gold to bring her personal haul to three gold by winning the women’s jumps and tricks while Adam became the youngest Sea Games gold medalist of KL2017 when he clinched the men’s tricks.
The water ski squad contributed four gold, one silver and two bronze in total at KL2017.
As expected, national divers Ng Yan Yee-Nur Dhabitah Sabri (womens 3m springboard synchronised), Ahmad Amsyar Azman-Chew Yiwei (men’s 3m springboar’d synchronised) and Leong Mun Yee-Jellson Jabillin (mixed pair 10m synchronised) had no difficulty winning their events.
National track cyclists were equally dominant at the track, breaking a number of national and games records en route to a A Malaysian and Thailand supporter show off their face paint for the football final at Shah Alam Stadium yesterday.
clean sweep of all five gold on offer. The fans were given a special treat by world keirin champion who donned his rainbow jersey and wheelied after winning the keirin.
Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin led Malaysia to a close win over Thailand to see Malaysia successfully defending the polo gold while the national men’s field hockey team whitewashed Myanmar 14-0 for gold.
Sepak takraw coach Abdul Talib
Ahmad breathed a sigh of relief as his charges successfully successfully defended their inter-regu gold with a 2-0 win over Philippines in the final.
Malaysia’s other gold yesterday were won in badminton, muay, speedskating, squash and sailing.
A total of four gold will be on offer in speed skating, two in diving and one in weightlighting today, with the closing ceremony set to be held tonight.