Golden start to Games
> Sultan Mizan bags 2 golds in equestrian
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia made a dream start to the 29th SEA Games yesterday with a royal golden touch as the Sultan of Terengganu galloped to the first triumph of the day in the 80km equestrian race.
Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin led the country to a majestic start with a double gold feat in the individual endurance and team endurance events. The team gold was won with Mohd Faris Syafiq and Mohammad Fuad Hashim.
Sultan Mizan, who is the first sultan to participate in the SEA Games, credited team effort for Malaysia’s success. He is ranked fourth in the world in this discipline.
“I would like to congratulate all and sundry, from the trainers, horse handlers, veterinarians, officials to the state government, for helping us achieve our target and working tirelessly for a successful race which went without any untoward incident,” Sultan Mizan said.
Wushu exponent Loh Jack Chang delivered Malaysia’s second gold in the sport on the first day of competition at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. The 30-year-old Sarawakian garnered 9.67 points to win the men’s taijijian (taiji sword) event. Indonesian Bobby Valentinus Gunawan got silver with 9.65 points, while Chan Un Kai won bronze for Singapore with 9.62.
Earlier in the day, Yeap Wai Kin got Malaysia to a winning start by taking the men’s jianshu (sword) gold. Malaysia scored a one-two finish when Yeap stunned his teammate Wong Weng Son to bag the gold.
In the women’s nanquan event yesterday evening, Diana Bong collected Malaysia’s third wushu gold with 9.66 points, beating Myanmar’s Myint Aye Thitsar (9.64 points) and Vietnam’s Nguyen Thuc Anh (9.63 points).
Malaysia’s golden streak continued in the pool, with Zylane Lee Yhing Huey and Gan Hua Wei putting up an amazing performance to clinch gold in the synchronised swimming competition. They amassed 76.3 points in the duet free event at the National Aquatic Centre in Bukit Jalil yesterday.
Singapore’s Debbie Soh and Miya Yong Hsing were beaten to the gold by a mere margin of 0.0076 points. Hua Wei won the solo technical event.
Malaysia’s netball team created history by grabbing the gold medal by defeating arch rivals Singapore 65-41 at the Juara Stadium. It was sweet revenge for Malaysia as Singapore took the gold at the 2015 SEA Games and Malaysians had to settle for silver.
The national rugby team also made history by winning the country’s first ever gold in the SEA Games rugby sevens competition after defeating Singapore 22-7 in the final.
Malaysian keglers Muhammad Rafiq Ismail and Adrian Ang Hsien Loong set the bowling alley ablaze when they swept the gold and silver in the men’s individual tenpin bowling category.